BRITISH police said Tuesday they would speak to Premier League clubs Liverpool and Everton about alleged physical and verbal incidents during the Merseyside derby at the weekend.

Merseyside police said it would speak with both sides after reports that Everton captain Phil Neville was spat on and punched by Liverpool fans as he prepared to take a throw-in, and that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was subjected to taunts about his family. Liverpool won Sunday’s match at Anfield 1-0.

“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,” Everton spokesman Ian Ross said on the club’s Web site Tuesday.

(SD-Agencies)