Liverpool believe they have a responsibility to help Jon Flanagan's rehabilitation after he was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend in a boozy row.
The 25-year-old defender was given a 12 month community order at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after admitting the attack on his partner of 18 months, Rachael Wall.
CCTV pictures showed Flanagan, of Knowsley Road, Aigburth, pushing Ms Wall into a wall twice before aiming a kick at her body when she slumped to the floor, report the Liverpool Echo.
But he avoided instant dismissal from Liverpool because the club believes it has a responsibility to help his rehabilitation after the late-night attack.
While Wall did not suffer any injuries and declined to give a statement to police, the incident was captured by CCTV and witnesses which led to the prosecution.
The pair are said to be working hard at their relationship and attempting to move forward together.
District Judge Wendy Lloyd ordered Flanagan to complete 40 hours’ unpaid work and attend 15 rehabilitation activity days with the Probation Service.
Liverpool condemned their player's behaviour “in the strongest possible terms” and said that Flanagan had “severely let down the club he had previously represented with distinction.”
An internal disciplinary process took place on Thursday following the culmination of the court case, the ECHO understands.
Flanagan joined Liverpool as a youngster at the Academy and it is felt that helping him to rehabilitate is the correct course of action.
The player’s own instant admission of guilt and subsequent contrition and remorse were all factors in the club’s decision.
Flanagan himself pre-emptively took the option not to go on the Liverpool players’ break to Dubai last week as he felt it would be inappropriate to be seen enjoying himself abroad prior to hearing his punishment for such a serious incident in court.
Club remain angry about the incident, but Flanagan has been given credit for his acceptance of the serious nature of the offence.
The reaction of his disappointed family - and that of his agent Bradley Orr - to the situation has also been in Flanagan’s favour.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is said to have accepted that Flanagan’s actions were a totally isolated incident and utterly out of character.
While the player has been nowhere near the Liverpool first team - with just one League Cup appearance this season - one of the central issues going forward will be how exactly he found himself in a lengthy drinking session in Liverpool city centre last December 22.
Education and advice on how to avoid such situations will be an obvious first step in the process of rehabilitation.
Flanagan, who earns £28,000 a week and has just less than 18 months left on his Liverpool contract, can undoubtedly consider himself lucky to have escaped dismissal.
It is however highly likely that he has played his last game for the club and a departure in the summer looks most probable.
The fact he has avoided the sack will no doubt spilt opinion among supporters but the club for now believe working to help him is the more responsible course of action.