Rodgers team talk to deal with Zenit racists

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will specifically advise his players on handling racist abuse in the Petrovsky Stadium this evening against Zenit St Petersburg, but he expects the authorities to deal with any problems (5pm, live on 3e, ITV4).

In December, a group of the Russian club’s fans published a manifesto calling for homosexuals and non-Europeans to be kept out of the St Petersburg club.

Liverpool, who have already written to Zenit and Uefa about the potential problem, have travelled with three black players — England international Glen Johnson and teenagers Andre Wisdom and Raheem Sterling — in the squad. And although Rodgers will address the issue in team meetings, he expects Uefa, police and the club to take care of matters in the Europa League last-32 first leg tie.

“I haven’t spoken to any of the players at the moment but we still have a few meetings to go,” said the Reds boss. “I will make reference to it because we have players it maybe could affect but we are here for football.

“We are very hopeful there will be a terrific game and anything that goes on outside the field will be taken care of.

“We want to progress in the tournament. We take great pride in being a winning club at Liverpool.”