The Times says Hicks Jr, the son of Reds co-owner Tom Hicks, was heckled by angry fans and spat at in a pub outside Anfield.

Hicks Jr, who was appointed to the Liverpool board of directors in the wake of his father's takeover of the club a year ago, had been to watch the 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough when, against the wishes of the small party he was with, he decided to visit the Sandon pub, a popular haunt among diehard fans situated in the shadow of the Kop, about an hour after the game had finished.

Although not immediately recognised, Hicks Jr was approached a few minutes later by one supporter with whom he is understood to have had a constructive discussion about his father's long-term intentions, but after ordering drinks at the bar, the atmosphere changed. Hicks Jr and his party, which was thought to include at least two other Americans and two drivers, became the target of anti-American chants and when they went to leave about 15 minutes later, Hicks Jr is believed to have been confronted by one fan, who spat at him but missed.

About £1,000 worth of damage is also understood to have been caused to the car chauffeuring Hicks Jr as the remonstrations turned ugly.

One onlooker told The Times: "It was just after 6pm that Hicks's son and the group he was with came into the pub. After a few minutes people started to recognise who he was. They were at the bar ordering drinks when the anti-American chants started and they carried on until they left ten minutes later. You could say he was a bit naive coming in somewhere like that."