Liverpool have condemned ‘abhorrent’ racist abuse aimed at their players.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita were targeted on Instagram after Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.
Keita was substituted in the first half at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano while a misplaced header from Alexander-Arnold led to the hosts’ second goal.
Responding to the abuse received by the pair, the Reds issued a strongly-worded statement which pledged to support both players in fighting it.
“Once again we are sadly discussing abhorrent racial abuse the morning after a football game,” read the statement.
“It is utterly unacceptable and it has to stop.
“LFC condemns all forms of discrimination and we continue to work with our inclusion partners through our Red Together initiative to campaign against it.
“As a club, we will offer our players any and all support that they may require.
“We will also work with the relevant authorities to identify and, if possible, prosecute those responsible.
“We know that this will not be enough until the strongest possible preventative measures are taken by social media platforms and the regulatory bodies which govern them.
“The current situation cannot be allowed to continue and it is incumbent on all of us to ensure that it does not.”
Alexander-Arnold and Keita are the latest in an alarming trend of English-based players to suffer racial abuse through their social media accounts.
Earlier this year, Manchester United duo Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe were sent offensive messages following their side’s defeat to Sheffield United.
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha also revealed that he had received Instagram abuse from a 12-year-old boy last July before he faced Aston Villa.
Brentford’s Ivan Toney has also been targeted on two separate occasions.