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.

Liverpool and Everton have condemned the racist abuse received by home midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure 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.

Everton and Liverpool have released a joint statement to condemn the racist abuse directed at Abdoulaye Doucoure after the Merseyside derby. The midfielder was sent off after the full-time whistle as tempered boiled over.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk wants his side to get over their Merseyside derby frustrations "as soon as possible" in order to focus on their title pursuits. The Reds were pegged back at the death in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Everton, a result which leaves them seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Liverpool went seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with the 2-2 draw with Everton. But the result didn't tell half of the story on a frantic night.