Racist Abuse Will Unite Liverpool Players, Says Brendan Rodgers: The Daily EPL

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.

Here are today’s Premier League news headlines:

• Racist abuse will unite Liverpool players, says Brendan Rodgers — The Independent
• Benítez urges players to treat Europa League tie like Champions League fixture — The Telegraph
• Sir Alex Ferguson says Real Madrid found Danny Welbeck too hot to handle — The Guardian
• England have risen two places to fourth in the latest Fifa Rankings — Sky Sports
• Jose Mourinho ‘100%’ sure Real Madrid can overcome Manchester United — Telegraph
• Tottenham’s Andre Villas-Boas thankful for not selling Michael Dawson — The Independent
• Swansea considered cancelling their trip to Dubai over the Itay Shechter affair — Evening Post
• Rain from Aston Villa’s famous Holte End helping to grow food — Aston Villa FC
• Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos accepts blame for Manchester United goal — The Guardian
• Manchester United reports a 74% rise in profits for the second half of 2012 — BBC News

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