A Liverpool fan is ‘lucky to be alive’ after being attacked by a rival fan not long after the final whistle.
54-year-old Michael Muldoon, a lifelong Reds fan, attended their match against Manchester City at Anfield on December 1, where Liverpool won 2-0.
But as he left the stadium he was reportedly punched in the face by a Manchester City supporter. The blow knocked him over and he hit his head on a kerb, knocking him unconscious for nearly five minutes.
Michael needed stitches to his head injury after being rushed to hospital – and doctors said he was lucky to be alive after suffering such a serious blow to the back of his head.
A man has now been arrested on suspicion of assault, but Michael’s daughter Charlotte is calling for anyone else with information to speak to police.
Charlotte, from Lytham St Annes in Lancashire, said: ‘Dad was walking to meet brother and friends and the attacker had got off the away coach and pulled my dad’s scarf from behind.
‘He turned around and they hit him in the face and pushed him and he fell back and hit his head on the kerb.
‘He was unconscious for four or five minutes.
‘He is a season ticket holder and a big Liverpool fan. He attends all the games, both home and away.
‘He was in Istanbul in 2005 and he’s been to all the Champions League games.
‘My mum and I drove from St Annes to Liverpool after we found out what had happened and it was the longest hour and 20 minutes of my life.
‘Anything could happen and you hear it on the news of people dying from one punch. They told him it could have been so much worse and I think that really hit home.
‘He went to hospital every other day for four weeks to get the dressing changed and then for stitching.’
A CT scan confirmed Michael hadn’t suffered any bleeding on the brain, and initially his wound was stapled and glued together.
But after returning to hospital to have his dressing changed every other day, doctors realised his condition wasn’t improving, and his wound was instead stitched back together.
Self-employed Michael has missed out on work due to his frequent hospital visits since the attack, as well as games watching his beloved Liverpool play.
‘He’s self-employed so had to take time off work, and we’ve had to as well, to look after him,’ Charlotte explained.
‘He hasn’t been able to go to the gym, it has impacted him quite a lot.
‘He is quite resilient and this incident has hurt us more than it has hurt him.
‘We were so glad to have Christmas together as it could have quite easily been taken away from us.’
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: ‘At around 6pm on December 1, the National Police Air Service witnessed a man being punched by another man on Arkles Lane.
‘The suspect was reported to have then boarded a white-coloured supporters coach called Bullocks Coaches which was parked nearby.
‘Police officers attended the scene and provided emergency medical treatment to the victim, who later attended hospital for a serious head injury and is continuing to receive medical treatment.
‘Officers arrested a 21-year-old man from Halifax on suspicion of assault that evening, and the investigation continues into the circumstances of what took place.
‘Enquiries are ongoing to bring the suspect to justice, and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault and those with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam to please get in touch.’
Operational football officer Robert Jones added: ‘The victim, a 54-year-old man, was left shocked and seriously injured by this attack and we are urging anyone with information to help us with our enquiries.
‘While we have arrested a man, we are appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of Arkles Lane and Priory Road at the time to contact us with any information which will assist in the investigation.’
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