Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool have united to condemn “in the strongest possible terms” racist abuse directed at Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure on social media.

Former Liverpool forward Robbie Fowler has delivered his verdict on the controversy at the end of the Goodison derby against Everton on Wednesday

Liverpool and Everton have condemned the racist abuse received by home midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré in Wednesday's Merseyside derby after he was involved in a melee at full-time when the game ended in a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

Liverpool's Curtis Jones was sent off post-match in the Merseyside derby after clashing with Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure, and allegedly fired an insult his way after the scrap

Doucoure made a beeline for the away end after Michael Oliver blew up seconds later, sparking an angry reaction from Curtis Jones and a number of Liverpool players. Doucoure and Jones were subsequently sent off alongside Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff.

Everton and Liverpool have issued a joint statement condemning ‘in the strongest possible terms’ the vile racist abuse Abdoulaye Doucoure has received following the sides’ bad-tempered 2-2 draw. The Everton star was involved in a fracas with Curtis Jones shortly after James Tarkowski volleyed home a stunning late equaliser in Wednesday’s last-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Curtis Jones saw red after reacting angrily to Abdoulaye Doucoure following Liverpool's dramatic Merseyside derby draw with Everton, with the midfielder now banned for the visit of Wolves

Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones were at the centre of a huge bust-up in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Everton on Wednesday night. Liverpool appeared to be on course to secure a 2-1 victory in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park but James Tarkowski struck in the eighth minute of injury time to rescue a draw for