Pensioner struck by Steve Finnan's 4x4

A pensioner was being treated for serious injuries today after being struck by a 4x4 vehicle driven by Liverpool FC and Ireland player Steve Finnan.

The 28-year-old defender was driving his black Range Rover in Tuebrook, close to the Reds’ Anfield stadium, when an elderly man stepped into the road.

The 81-year-old man was knocked down and suffered head, face and leg injuries.

He was taken to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, where his injuries were said to be serious but not life-threatening.

Finnan, a Republic of Ireland international who joined Liverpool from Fulham in 2003, stopped at the scene.

He gave a statement to police but was not arrested and is not suspected of any driving offence.

A spokesman for Liverpool FC declined to comment, describing it as “a personal matter“.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police appealed for witnesses to the accident, which took place on West Derby Road, close to its junction with Boundary Lane, at 1.40pm on Thursday.

She refused to confirm the driver’s identity but said: “He was not arrested and is not suspected of any offence at this stage of the investigation.”