Police probe player abuse claims

The behaviour of both teams' supporters has raised concerns

Police are to speak to Liverpool and Everton football clubs about allegations that players were abused during the city's derby game.

Officers will probe claims that Everton captain Phil Neville was spat at and punched as he took a throw-in.

Police will also look at reports that other fans chanted comments about the daughter of Liverpool captain and England international Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 in the match at Anfield on Sunday.

Television cameras appeared to capture Neville being abused by several fans in the second half of the game.

Gerrard also faced an apparent torrent of abuse as he walked to take a corner in front of Everton fans in the second half.

We want to make sure that doesn't happen again at the Merseyside derby or any other game Ian Ross, Everton spokesman

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "Police will be speaking to the clubs involved today."

Dave Lewis, the force's football liaison officer, who travels abroad with the teams when they play in Europe, will conduct the discussions.

A spokesman for Liverpool FC was not immediately available for comment.

Prevent contact

Everton spokesman Ian Ross said: "We felt it necessary to try to involve the safety officers and police because we cannot have a situation where supporters are having physical contact with professional footballers during the game.

"We want to make sure that doesn't happen again at the Merseyside derby or any other game."

He added that the club would never condone the singling out of individual players for vitriolic insults.

He also said that Joleon Lescott had been subjected to an afternoon-long barrage of "quite disgusting and quite audible abuse" and that Phil Neville was spat at several times and punched in the back by a supporter.

The match - traditionally one of Europe's most passionate derbies - had been billed as vital in both clubs' race for the Premiership's fourth place.