A teenager was reportedly stabbed with his own knife after confronting a man in a quiet street.
The 15-year-old boy is being treated in hospital for a head injury and a minor puncture wound to his leg after the incident in Aquarius Close, Dovecot , at around 6pm.
A man in his 40s has been arrested by Merseyside Police on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm (GBH), and officers could be seen examining the front driveway of a house.
However witnesses to the incident claimed the boy had "bounced along the street" carrying a large dagger-like knife tucked into his tracksuit.
One neighbour said he had disarmed the boy after he confronted the man.
He said: "I grabbed him from behind and took him to the floor. He got a bang on his head and a few cuts, but it was from his own knife like.
"He came up with the knife, it was self-defence."
Another witness, who did not wish to be named, told the ECHO : "I could see him bouncing down the road and he had the knife in his waistband.
"He walked up to the other fella, who was outside his house, and started shouting, then it all kicked off.
"He pulled the knife out then a neighbour grabbed him from behind and took him to the floor and they disarmed him. He ran off and it looked like he was bleeding from somewhere, he had blood on his hands and face.
"When I first saw him I was worried he had a gun to be honest. Nothing like this has ever happened round here before."
The witness said the boy had limped back towards Taurus Road, by the junction with East Prescot Road, where he was taken to hospital via ambulance.
Forensic scientists could be seen taking pictures of the scene, which had been cordoned off with police tape.
Merseyside Police confirmed an investigation was underway after an alleged assault upon the 15-year-old boy.
A spokeswoman said: "Officers were called to an address on Aquarius Close, Dovecot, just after 6pm today, following reports the teenager had suffered a head injury and a minor puncture wound to the leg.
"The teenager has been taken to hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
"A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of s18 wounding.
"An investigation into the incident is underway and house-to-house enquiries are being carried out in the local area."
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting log 759 of May 25.
