A teenager suffered a seizure in hospital after he was repeatedly hit in an unprovoked attack following a birthday treat to watch Liverpool play at Anfield, claimed his furious dad.
The 17-year-old, from Shropshire, was surprised with tickets from his girlfriend to see Liverpool take on Benfica in the Champions League last Wednesday, ahead of his 18th birthday.
After the match the couple went to a restaurant in the city centre and it was when they were returning to their hotel that the teen was set upon in a "savage" attack that led to him breaking his jaw, reported the Liverpool Echo.
On their way back to the Mercure Hotel on Chapel Street the teen started talking to a man, described as being in his 30s, about football.
After waking away, the victim's dad, who asked to remain anonymous, said his son was "savaged" by his attacker, who hit him in the face over and over again at around 11pm.
The teenager's dad told The ECHO : "He (the attacker) said something about the football and my son said it was a good game. He then walked away and followed him and whacked him in the back of the head.
"They ran into their hotel and the man carried on attacking him, he was punching him over and over again. He then stole my son's coat and wallet and ran away.
"He was rushed to hospital and had a seizure because of his injuries. We have just had him transferred to a hospital here in Shropshire and he's going into surgery soon."
The boy's dad said his son was "traumatised" by the incident which was a completely unprovoked attack.
He said: "He's a really good kid, he's been brought up right, had good parents and is just a good lad. He's traumatised by this, I don't think he will be the same or be going to the city again.
"It's disgusting that this has happened to my son, a fully grown man completely savaged him in a completely unprovoked attacked."
Merseyside Police are investigating the incident and are asking for anybody who witnessed the attack or has any CCTV footage to get in touch. The offender is reported to be a white male in his 30s, 5ft 9in tall, large build and short brown/black hair.
Detective Inspector Amy Smith said: "Enquiries are in the very early stages to establish what has taken place. I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Old Hall Street and Chapel Street at that time who saw or heard anything, or any taxi drivers who were in the area who thinks they captured something on their dash cam to come forward and speak to us."
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000255236.
