An Oldham Athletic fan has been stabbed after his team's away match against Liverpool this afternoon.

The man, 35, was attacked a few metres from Anfield just after the Latics' match with Liverpool FC finished.

The man flagged down a passing ambulance on Lower Breck Road near the Flat Iron pub at 5.15pm.

The victim was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital where his condition was described as stable. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Merseyside Police confirmed an Oldham Athletic fan had been attacked, suffering a single stab wound, and said an investigation had been launched into the incident.

Jamie Harrison, 37, a Latics fan from Oldham who travelled to the match, passed the scene just after the incident occurred.

He said: "The atmosphere had been fine all through the match and just outside the ground.

"I was in The Flat Iron pub and came out to see it all happening about 500 yards down the street.

"I saw him getting put into the back of an ambulance with a lot of wadding on his back.

"There was a helicopter overhead and two or three ambulances around with a lot of police in the area.

"I feel really lucky - if I had walked out the pub five minutes earlier I would have walked into the trouble and it looked really nasty."

A spokeswoman from North West Ambulance Service said: "We received a call at 5.25pm that a male in his thirties had been stabbed.

"We were called to Breck Road and the man was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital for treatment."

A Merseyside police spokesman said: "I can confirm an investigation is under way after a man, believed to be an Oldham fan, was assaulted after the Liverpool game this afternoon."

Detective Chief Inspector Andy O'Connor said: "I want to reassure people that we are conducting a thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

"This was a nasty assault which has left a man in hospital.

"The area was very busy with both football fans and passing motorists when the incident took place and I'm confident some people will have seen what happened.

"I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident, or has any other information, to get in touch with us, either through St Anne Street CID on 0151 777 4064, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."

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