Last week a court heard how a Liverpool player was punched, kicked to the ground and left fearing for his sight in a vicious city centre attack.
Shamal George was left fearing for his career and his eyesight after Ross Gardner, 32, attacked the former Liverpool FC goalkeeper and his brother in 2019.
Gardner, formerly of Stapleton Road, Doncaster, was found guilty of attacking Mr George outside of Red Door bar in Liverpool city centre, after already pleading guilty to two other counts of assault against the footballer and his brother inside of the bar.
But George isn't the only footballer to have been a victim of crime in recent times.
Sadio Mane's Allerton mansion was also targeted during Liverpool's Champions League match against Bayern Munich, but he wasn't the first.
Here we take a look back at some of the crimes we've seen carried out against Liverpool and Everton players in our region.
Fabinho
Fabinho 's home was burgled on the night of Liverpool's Premier League trophy lift.
The Brazilian midfielder's home was targeted while the home was empty and no one was inside.
It's believed thieves entered his home while he would have been at Anfield celebrating Liverpool's momentous win.
A number of jewellery items were stolen in the Formby burglary, police said, as well as a grey Audi RS6.
It was discovered the house had been broken into when the occupants entered the home, police said.
The car was later discovered in the Wigan area and recovered.
Sadio Mane
Like Fabinho, Sadio Mane was targeted when opportune thieves knew he would not be home.
Mane was on the pitch at Anfield when a number of people forced entry to his Allerton house.
Watches, mobile phones and car keys were stolen during the incident that took place between 6pm and 11.45pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 - as the Reds took on Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
It was the second time the player was burgled.
Burglars broke into Mane ’s property and smashed a patio door at the nearby home of Dejan Lovren - where they fled after being shouted at.
Officers were called to Lovren’s Allerton address at around 8pm on November 1, 2017, - just 15 minutes after the Reds kicked off against Maribor at Anfield.
A woman at the property reported three offenders had smashed a patio door before fleeing when she shouted at them, telling them she was calling police.
A number of items including expensive watches, mobile phones and car keys were taken from the home.
Andre Wisdom
Former Liverpool FC player Andre Wisdom was "a very lucky guy" not to be more seriously injured after he was stabbed to the head and buttocks in an "unprovoked attack".
The 27-year-old defender, who now plays for Derby County, was attacked last year in the Beaumont Street area of Toxteth, where he had reportedly been visiting a family member
He was brutally set upon by four men who wore masks and were armed with blades, and who also stole his designer watch.
The defender, who played 14 times for Liverpool, between 2012-2017, was approached at about 4.30am, on Sunday, July 28.
It is understood Wisdom drove the short distance to his home on Merseyside before then going to hospital with his injuries.
Roberto Firmino
The Brazillian forward was reportedly raided by a 'hooded gang' who stole £70,000 worth of jewellery, watches and clothes at around 10pm on December 22, 2016.
The burglars reportedly stalked the 27-year-old’s home, in Mossley Hill, for days before waiting for the Reds star to leave with his wife and two children.
Firmino moved to a hotel with his wife and young children following the raid.
Shamal George
Shamal George and his brother Lloyd Smith were attacked on a night out last year.
At the time George was contracted to the Anfield club, though he now plays for Colchester United.
George and his brother were punched by Ross Gardner inside Red Door Bar, on Berry Street, on March 9, 2019.
Gardner then continued to attack George outside of the bar while he was separated alone from his brother, who was recovering from his injuries.
The court heard both brothers required stitches and Mr George said he suffered a broken nose in the ordeal.
Gardner was arrested after images of him were released on social media and a European arrest warrant has been issued for Gardner's return to the UK so he can be sentenced.
Pepe Reina
The much-loved goalkeeper's home was burgled while he played in the Champions League semi-final victory against Chelsea in May 2007.
He returned from the celebrations to find that his home in Woolton had been ransacked.
Jewellery, a Bang and Olufsen entertainment system, personal documents and a grey Porsche Cayenne with Spanish number plates were taken.
The Porsche was found burned out in West Derby.
Daniel Agger
The now retired defender had his Wirral home burgled in September 2005.
Jerzy Dudek
The Merseyside home of Jerzy Dudek, one of the heroes of Istanbul in 2005, was burgled in June 2006.
He was on holiday in Poland when thieves took his Porsche car, jewellery and football memorabilia, including his European Cup medal.
Dirk Kuyt
Striker Dirk Kuyt also fell victim during his time as a Liverpool player.
His luxury home in Woolton was broken into while he was away on international duty with Holland in 2007.
Peter Crouch
Burglars struck at the home of former reds striker Peter Crouch and his Liverpudlian wife Abbey Clancy twice.
His previous home in Alderley Edge was raided in 2006 while he played a Champions League fixture.
He was a victim again in 2011, by which time he had moved to his current club Stoke but was still living in Cheshire. The couple were not home at either time.
Steven Gerrard
Gerrard's home was targeted, like many of his former teammates, while he was playing for Liverpool in 2007.
Masked raiders broke in while Gerrard captained his side in a victory in a Champions League tie against Marseille.
His wife, Alex Curran, confronted the gang who demanded she hand over jewellery and the contents of a safe or else they would “take her kids”.
Martin Wilson, was part of the gang and was jailed for seven years and four months.
Keep up to date with local news in your area by adding your postcode below:
Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane and his wife were yet to find a new Merseyside home after his £20million move to Anfield before they were targeted by burglars in 2008.
The couple were taking up temporary residence at a city centre penthouse when thieves sneaked in - again while the player was away on international duty.
It is believed an expensive watch and other jewellery belonging to Mrs Keane was taken.
Jermaine Pennant
Ram-raiders were believed to have struck at the home of Jermaine Pennant while he was a Liverpool player in 2008.
At the time the player said he was woken by a huge bang and went downstairs where he found the front gates of the four-bedroom home smashed.
A burnt out Land Rover was found in a nearby field, believed to have been used by the raiders who fled after Pennant heard them.
Phil Jagielka
Phil Jagielka was held at knifepoint when an armed gang burst into his home in 2009.
The defender was confronted by three men who stormed his £2m mansion in Cheshire.
They thrust a knife towards the then-Blues star and forced him to open a safe and hand over jewellery, believed to include two high value Rolex and Breitling watches.
They also took keys to his Range Rover and sped away in the vehicle which was later found abandoned a short distance away having suffered slight damage.
It is believed that the offenders thought the defender would be appearing for Everton against Hull but he stayed home due to injury.
Lucas Leiva
In 2009 a man was jailed after taking more than 150 valuable items from midfielder Lucas Leiva's home.
Steven Jones was locked up for two and a half years after police raided searched his girlfriend's car and mother's home and recovered Lucas' Olympic bronze medal.
Romelu Lukaku
In September 2015, former Everton forward Romelu Lukaku was victim of a break-in while he was away taking part in a crucial Euro 2016 qualifier with his national side Belgium.
The Belgian striker's pad in Wilmslow, Cheshire, was raided in September 2015.
Gareth Tomlinson, 29, Carl White, 38, and Phillip Mulligan, 30, were locked up after conspiracy to burgle.
They fled with a haul of electronics before escaping in the footballer’s car.
Wayne Rooney
In August 2015, former Everton striker Wayne Rooney's mansion in Cheshire was targeted while he was playing in his own testimonial.
Wife Coleen told a court Robert McNamara’s attempt to break in to their family home had caused her “sleepless nights” and left her "fearing for her children".
In a victim impact statement Coleen said: “Just after it happened it caused us sleepless nights, waking up and watching security cameras fearing someone was out there.
”I fear for my children playing outside on their own.
“It knocks me sick that someone was creeping around the garden in the daylight.”
Former serviceman McNamara, 25, from Scarborough, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting attempting to enter the house as a trespasser with intent to steal.
