Police arrest man after bottle was thrown at Man Utd team bus on way to Anfield

Police have arrested a man after a bottle was launched at Manchester United’s team bus as it made its way to Anfield.

The vehicle carrying Erik ten Hag and his team was struck by a glass projectile hurled from a group of fans ahead of their clash with rivals Liverpool on December 17.

Footage uploaded online captured the moment the glass bottle was thrown as supporters of the home side gathered outside the ground to give United a hostile reception.

The attack followed previous incidents outside Anfield at which the team buses of Manchester City (twice) and Real Madrid were targeted.

With regards to the above, nobody has been held to account.

However, Merseyside Police have now arrested a 23-year-old in connection with the United incident.

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘We have arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage after damage was caused to the Manchester United team bus ahead of a game at Anfield on 17th December 2023.

‘The bus was making its away along Anfield Road, near the Tia Hotel, when it was reported a bottle was thrown at the bus causing a hairline crack to the side window. Nobody was injured during the incident.

‘The man, who is from the Everton area, has been released under investigation.'

Following the attack – and a series of incidents of fan disorder – Premier League chiefs wrote to clubs ahead of the festive period, asking them to remind their supporters to behave themselves.

On a weekend of shame for the English game, a man was arrested after a fan invaded the pitch and chased the referee at Port Vale’s League One clash with Portsmouth on Saturday while, amid unsavoury scenes at the Hawthorns on Sunday, six arrests were made as crowd trouble saw play in Wolves’s 2-0 FA Cup win in the Black Country derby suspended for around 30 minutes.