You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Liverpool FC have condemned the actions of disgraced defender Jon Flanagan - and indicated ‘internal disciplinary’ procedures will now begin.

Flanagan admitted assaulting his partner of around 18 months, Rachael Wall, after a drunken row in Duke Street, Liverpool City Centre, in the early hours of December 22 - and was sentenced today.

The club issued a strongly worded statement after the 25-year-old was ordered to complete 45 hours unpaid work and rehabilitation days with the Probation Service as part of a 12 month community order.

CCTV captured £28,000 per week Flanagan grabbing Ms Wall around the throat before shoving her into a wall on two occasions.

On the second occasion she could be seen falling to the floor, at which point Flanagan kicks her to the body.

This afternoon a Liverpool FC spokesman said: “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the player’s actions during the events that took place resulting in this criminal conviction.

“It leaves his own reputation damaged and, through association, he has severely let down the club he had previously represented with distinction.

“We have expressed to him our disappointment and anger that he has failed to live up to the values of Liverpool Football Club, in this specific instance.

“The club has allowed the legal formalities to reach a conclusion before deciding on or implementing any internal disciplinary action. That internal process will now begin.

“The club has no further comment to make at this time.”

Lionel Greig, defending Flanagan, told Liverpool Magistrates’ Court during the sentencing hearing: ““Hopefully his employers can give him support and advice to help deal with the issues raised on that night.”

He told the court that his client and Ms Wall were still in a relationship and “working hard to get it back on track” after the incident.

District Judge Wendy Lloyd, passing sentence, told Flanagan: “You are a relatively young man with no previous convictions and it is therefore sad that you find yourself here today due to your behaviour.

“This is an unpleasant episode... as we have discussed at the previous hearing this was not just a single act in that few minutes it was a matter of this lady going to the floor twice and you used your foot on her on one occasion.

“You claim to have no memory of this incident which does suggest you were very drunk indeed.”

Flanagan was ordered to report to the Probation Service before leaving court today.

Academy graduate Flanagan broke through to Liverpool’s first team in the 2010/11 season.

His only appearance this season has been in the Carabao Cup defeat at Leicester City.