Special needs Chelsea supporter, 9, left 'confused and anxious' after needing first aid treatment when Liverpool fans threw smoke bomb into away section at Anfield during Premier League tie

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A nine-year-old Chelsea supporter with special needs and learning difficulties required first aid treatment after Liverpool fans threw a smoke bomb into the away section at Anfield during Sunday's Premier League match.

Donte Patterson-Stanley had to be taken to the stadium's first aid area after inhaling the smoke, where paramedics checked him over and immediately put him on a nebuliser to open up his airways.

He had red, itchy and watery eyes and was coughing non-stop as a result. The experience left the youngster 'confused and anxious'.

Images on Twitter showed plumes of red smoke coming from the away section apparently after Liverpool forward Sadio Mane scored their opening goal in the 2-0 win early in the second half. 

Merseyside Police are investigating the incident, while the Football Association confirmed they are also looking into what happened. 

Photographs posted on Twitter showed the flare thrown by a Liverpool supporter onto the section of Chelsea fans below 

Red smoke could be seen in the Chelsea section after the flare was thrown from above

Donte Patterson-Stanley (right), 9, pictured with mother Frances Stanley on a previous away trip with Chelsea, required medical attention after the smoke bomb landed close to him

Video footage showed the seconds after the flare landed in the Chelsea section 

Chelsea fans appeared to throw the smoke canister onto the field to get it away from people

'Merseyside Police can confirm that we are investigating after a flare was reported to have been thrown during the Liverpool FC vs Chelsea FC match yesterday afternoon (14th April),' a statement read.

'The incident was reported to us at 5.40pm, shortly after LFC scored their first goal, that a flare was thrown from the upper section of the Anfield Stand.

'Following this, at around 6.20pm, officers received reports that a young Chelsea fan, believed to be nine years old, had been taken to the first aid centre where he was treated by St Johns Ambulance staff after suffering a panic attack as a result of the flare.

'At this stage, it is not clear who threw the flare, however investigations are ongoing and police are urging anyone with information to come forward quoting log 322 of 14th April.'

A follow-up tweet by the same user who posted the pictures suggested that some Chelsea fans responded by throwing coins back up at the Liverpool fans

Another Twitter user said that a young Chelsea fans needed medical treatment as a result

Donte's mother Frances Stanley told MailOnline: 'Shortly after the smoke bomb was thrown into the away end, my son's eyes went quite red and itchy and very watery.

'He was coughing non-stop and sneezing which he wasn't doing just beforehand.

'One of the stewards came over and asked if he was OK and then offered to get one of the paramedics over to have a look at him. They came over straight away then took us to the first aid room.

'They were a bit concerned about his oxygen levels so proceeded to give him nebuliser to open his airways. It did help as the coughing eased off and he calmed quite a bit.

'My son has special needs with developmental delays. It was all a bit much for him and with him not understanding what was going on, he became very anxious.'

Ms Stanley, who also attended the game with her 19-year-old daughter Georgia, added: 'I must say that the stewards and medical staff were fantastic and I honestly couldn't thank them enough.

'After they were happy with his oxygen levels, they were happy to let us go so we could get back on the supporters' coach to get back to London.'

'Unfortunately he was sick on the coach, which I believe is the after-effects of everything that went on.

'Thankfully he seems to have made a full recovery.'  

Flares are lit to greet the arrival of the Liverpool team coach outside Anfield before the match

Pictures posted by Twitter user DJSLD appeared to show the moment immediately after the flare was thrown into the Chelsea section.

They wrote: 'Safe to say they were fuming when that flare landed on them after Mane's goal.'  

At least one flare appeared to have been thrown from the upper tier of the Anfield Road End onto Chelsea supporters who were housed in the lower tier.

Video of the incident appeared to show Chelsea fans throwing one of the flares onto the pitch to get it out the way. 

Other reports on social media said that Chelsea supporters responded to the flare incident by throwing coins back up at the Liverpool fans above them.

Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals by Mane and Mohamed Salah.

It is illegal to enter a football stadium while in possession of a flare, smoke bomb or firework and anyone caught with one could face three months in prison.  

Sportsmail has contacted Liverpool for comment, while Chelsea refused to comment on the incident. 

Amanda Jacks, caseworker for the Football Supporters' Federation, said: 'The use of pyro is illegal and throwing smoke bombs or flares amongst supporters is grossly irresponsible.

'Their use in an uncontrolled environment can have serious consequences – injury to fellow fans, banning orders, criminal records and even lengthy custodial sentences - fans should think twice before bringing pyro to the match.'