Police to crackdown on Everton fans who abuse Steven Gerrard

Merseyside Police are to target Everton fans who abuse Steven Gerrard during tomorrow night's Anfield derby.

The Liverpool force want to emulate their Hampshire colleagues, who handled the Sol Campbell affair by cracking down on any offensive chanting.

Extra officers will be on the beat with instructions to arrest anybody making crude gestures, or singing inappropriate songs.

Obscene chants have recently been aimed at Liverpool captain Gerrard and Merseyside police Chief Supt Dave Lewis said: "We will speak to the CPS to see if what is sung is viewed as abusive and we could arrest people and charge them. We won't be arresting hundreds as we haven't got the resources to do so and could prompt a melee.