Man charged after Liver Building set alight during Premier League celebration

Mayor expresses ‘sadness and disappointment’ at scenes of thousands of Liverpool fans celebrating in streets amid coronavirus pandemic

Some £10,000 of damage was caused to the Liver Building after a firework landed on a balcony (Peter Byrne/PA)

A man has been charged with causing criminal damage to the Liver Building after a firework was thrown during Liverpool fans' celebrations of their Premier League win.

Matthew Egglesden, 19, was charged with causing criminal damage and firing fireworks in a public place, Merseyside Police said.

The force said £10,000-worth of damage was caused to the building on the city’s waterfront after the firework landed on a balcony on Friday night.

Thousands of Liverpool fans had gathered at the Pier Head for the second night of celebrations after the club became champions of England for the first time in 30 years.

Police said glasses and bottles were thrown at officers as the celebrations continued into the early hours.

Two officers suffered minor injuries to their backs when items were thrown at them as they went into the crowd to help a 32-year-old man who had suffered serious head injuries in an assault, the force said.

​Craig Campbell, 26, was charged with grievous bodily harm following the attack and is due before magistrates on Monday.

Fifteen others who were arrested for offences of public order, affray and being drunk and disorderly were released on bail, a force spokesperson said.

In a joint statement with police and Liverpool City Council, the football club condemned the scenes as “wholly inappropriate”.

The statement said: “The potential danger of a second peak of Covid-19 still exists and we need to work together to make sure we don’t undo everything that has been achieved as a region during lockdown.”

Joe Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool, wrote a letter to the people of the city to express his “sadness and disappointment”.

He said: “Seeing thousands of people congregating at the Pier Head into the early hours and the ugly scenes shared on social media afterwards was heartbreaking to see.”

Mr Egglesden is due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday.