Liverpool FC player Jon Flanagan kicked his girlfriend in a prolonged assault, a court has heard.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to common assault by beating when he appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The court heard he had attacked Rachael Wall on Duke Street in Liverpool city centre at around 3.20am on Friday December 22.

District Judge Wendy Lloyd said she had been given a breakdown of CCTV of the incident, which showed Flanagan assaulting his partner on “several occasions” and kicking her at one point.

She said: “This is a prolonged assault, not just one episode of violence.”

The court heard the victim had not provided a statement.

Lionel Greig, defending, said there had been no previous incidents of domestic violence in the relationship.

He said: “They want to hopefully just put this matter behind them and move forward in a positive way.”

He said both parties had been under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Mr Greig said: “This is a young man of no previous convictions, he is 25 years of age, he lives at home with his parents and he has been in a relationship with the complainant for some 18 months.”

Judge Lloyd asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service and warned Flanagan he would face a community penalty.

She said: “I need to be reassured that these circumstances will never be repeated again.”

The defender, who wore a black suit and tie, was given unconditional bail until January 17, when he will be sentenced.

Liverpool-born Flanagan has made more than 50 first-team appearances for Liverpool FC since making his debut aged 18.

He spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Burnley after 20 months out due to injury and has featured only once in the first team this season as the Anfield club were knocked out of the League Cup by Leicester City.