An investigation has been launched into the "offensive graffiti" seen before the Merseyside Derby.
Several murals near Anfield stadium were defaced in the hours before the Merseyside Derby between Liverpool FC and Everton FC on Saturday, September 3. The Trent Alexander-Arnold mural, commissioned by The Anfield Wrap to highlight the work of charity Fans Supporting Foodbanks, was targeted and covered in blue paint.
Nearby artworks featuring Ian St John, Roger Hunt, Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson were also targeted. The Hot Wok restaurant near Goodison Park was also tagged with reference to the Heysel Disaster.
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Both clubs released a statement on Saturday condemning the defacing of buildings and murals. A separate statement from Everton and Liverpool said: "Both Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs jointly condemn the defacing of buildings and murals ahead of the Merseyside derby.
"Racist and offensive graffiti has been daubed across multiple sites in north Liverpool this morning around Anfield and Goodison. Both clubs will work together with Merseyside Police and will support the investigation in finding those responsible. Hate has no place in football.
"Together, Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs and their supporters will continue in representing our city in the fight against all forms of discrimination."
The graffiti across the murals included a number of lewd images and discriminatory slurs. Dave Kelly, chair of Fans Supporting Foodbanks, told the ECHO on Saturday : "It is simple. I do not condone or condemn such behaviour but for the last seven years we have run campaigns under the motto 'hunger does not wear club colours'.
"Whether it is red or blue committing these crimes they need to give their heads a wobble. It is just unhelpful and I want to ask fans to grow up and realise this city is facing times of adversity and there are lots of things going - people going hungry, we've had four murders in the last few weeks. So they need to grow up and be respectful, stop vandalising everything, and put tribal differences aside."
The murals near Anfield started to be cleaned on Sunday. John Gibbons, of The Anfield Wrap, thanked MurWalls on Twitter. Mr Gibbons wrote: "Thanks so much to MurWalls for getting in touch this morning and offering to travel up to do this so quickly. The murals will all need more work to restore them to former glory but at least the nonsense has been cleaned up."
Images taken by the ECHO this morning, Monday, September 5 showed most of the graffiti had been removed.
Merseyside Police told the ECHO: "We can confirm we are investigating offensive graffiti which has been sprayed on a number of buildings and murals around Anfield and Goodison on Saturday 3 September. The report of the offensive graffiti was received at around 10.30am, prior to the Everton v Liverpool derby game.
"Merseyside Police will not tolerate hate crime in any form and is working to identify and bring to justice anyone found responsible for committing a hate crime."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ quoting reference 0220 of 3 September. You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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