Anti-Napoli graffiti has been sprayed outside of Anfield ahead of Tuesday night's fixture between Liverpool and the Italian club.
The words "Run Napoli Run", "Napoli Rats" and "Napoli not welcome here - we are waiting" were sprayed on a construction boards adjacent to the Kop entrance. The worrying graffiti comes following trouble between the two sets of supporters in recent years.
Liverpool and Napoli meet on Merseyside in a Champions League game that will determine which team will top Group A. Luciano Spalletti's side, who are top of Serie A, are three points ahead of their English opponents and boast a far superior goal difference.
Tuesday night's game will be the eighth competitive fixture between Liverpool and Napoli. Reds fans were warned by the Merseyside club about potential trouble in Naples ahead of their last meeting in September, which ended in a 4-1 win to the Italian club.
Liverpool told supporters not to wear club colours in Naples nor wander the city alone. They were also told to stay in a designated hotel to eat and drink - and they were advised not to make their own way to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
As a result of Liverpool's instructions to supporters, potential trouble was a huge talking point before September's game. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp lashed out at a reporter who asked for his opinion on the matter in his pre-match press conference.
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"That's an embarrassing question from you," said Klopp. "You want to create headlines. I really don't understand it. I don't live a normal life in Napoli. I am protected here, I go to the hotel, and now you ask me what I think about Napoli.
"You know exactly what people are talking about. If some supporters meet some supporters, something can happen. That's nothing to do with the city, so I don't know. But I'm not here to create headlines for you."
Two Liverpool fans were assaulted in Naples ahead of a game between the two clubs in September 2019. Merseyside Police confirmed that "a number of males on scooters" approached Liverpool fans in a bar and two men sustained superficial cuts and grazes.
Napoli supporters also clashed with Merseyside Police ahead of a fixture between the two clubs at Anfield in November 2019. "We are continuing with our investigations after a number of arrests were made last night with four people still in custody and we would appeal to any witnesses to come forward and talk to us," said match commander superintendent David Charnock.
"Unfortunately a small minority of fans are intent on carrying out violence or disorder at football matches and this type of behaviour is unacceptable and will simply not be tolerated.
"As always, we will do all we can to ensure our policing of any football match puts the safety of supporters first, it is at the heart of everything we do. We will always make sure we do everything we can to keep home and away fans safe."
