The Royal Liver Building was set on fire during a night of city centre disorder.
Crowds celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League title win descended on the Pier Head in their thousands despite repeated pleas from authorities to stay away.
Fireworks were aimed directly at the city’s iconic landmark, which had been lit up in red, white and blue to commemorate this year’s Armed Forces Day.
Visible flames could be seen on the building’s balcony which were put out by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service shortly after 11pm on Friday evening.
Footage also appeared on social media of people launching bottles at a Merseyside Police patrol van that was on site during the ugly scenes.
Liverpool City Council pleaded with revellers to leave the waterfront site.
“We cannot move fans or take action to prevent them gathering. We do not have the power to do this,” they tweeted.
“If you know someone out celebrating right now, please message them and ask them to bring the celebration home.”
Merseyside Police have issued a Section 34 dispersal zone order which grants them the power to break up groups of more than two people until Monday.
A joint statement between the force, the City Council and Liverpool themselves widely condemned the scenes which took place at the Pier Head.
“Our city is still in a public health crisis and this behaviour is wholly unacceptable,” read the statement.
“The potential danger of a second peak of COVID-19 still exists and we need to work together to make sure we don’t undo everything that has been achieved as a region during lockdown.
When it is safe to do so, we will all work together to arrange a victory parade when everyone can come together to celebrate.
“Until that time, the safety of our city and our people continues to be our number one priority.”