Liverpool Football Club and manager Brendan Rodgers are fully prepared today to face any racist abuse their players may be subjected to in the Europa League match against Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.

“You go into the sporting arena and hopefully everyone from football, Uefa, referees and officials will support any player it may affect,” said Rodgers.

According to The Independent newspaper, Zenit have a long history of racist incidents. They were fined in 2008 after fans threw bananas and made monkey chants during a game with Marseilles and again in 2011 when former Brazil international Roberto Carlos was offered a banana.

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