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Right wing campaigners tried to use an image of celebrating Liverpool FC fans as an example of support for an extremist - sparking ridicule as people highlighted what the picture really showed.

Supporters of ex-English Defence League leader Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon (who likes to be called Tommy Robinson) shared a birds eye view of Reds supporters at the 2005 Champions League homecoming parade in Liverpool city centre and claimed it showcased support for the divisive criminal at a demonstration in London yesterday.

Yet the claims prompted a backlash as people called them out for the shocking misrepresentation on social media.

Captured from above St George's Hall, the image shows the scenes of joy and delight that followed the dramatic comeback against AC Milan as 300,000 fans gathered outside the landmark to see the triumphant squad.

Yet the same image was re-published yesterday alongside claims it showed protesters calling for the release of jailed Yaxley-Lennon.

It came as tense scenes were being played out in London as demonstrators chanted "Free Tommy Robinson", hurled missiles and smoke bombs at police.

It was claimed: "The left want this picture taken down because it shows the whole of London calling for Tommy Robinson to be released so please don't retweet it."

The post went viral, being shared and viewed by thousands of people.

But many have hit back, pointing out the image shows Liverpool - not London - and is certainly not a show of support for extremist views.

Responses included "More misinformation from your fake news account. That isn’t London. It’s Liverpool in 2005!", "The 'Left' are quite happy for you to continue making a complete idiot of yourself" and "I'm beginning to think that Yaxley's little flock might not have much in the IQ department".

Another comment that attracted support added: "Seriously? You use a picture of St George's Hall on Lime Street in Liverpool. The very location where the edl were literally laughed out of town to the Benny Hill theme ?"

(Image: Martin Rickett/PA.)

That comment referred to how Liverpool has repeatedly turned its back on the far right over recent years.

History in fact shows when a far right protest visits this city, the biggest crowd tends to be made up of those showing their distaste for extremism.

It happened in August 2015, when a Neo-Nazi protest group was forced to cancel their march through Liverpool city centre following a huge backlash.

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That ended with suspected members of the group involved being locked inside a lost baggage facility after retreating to Liverpool Lime Street.

And it happened the following summer when EDL members were laughed out of Liverpool – to the sound of the Benny Hill theme music.

The comedy song rang out across Lime Street as the far right group were forced to cut short their attempt to march through the city centre.

Anti-fascist protestors sat down on the ground to stop the march – and after a standstill, the EDL group turned back and held their demonstration in a loading bay at Lime Street station.

(Image: James Maloney / Liverpool Echo)

In between those failures another protest - switched to the city at the last minute in the hope of avoiding a repeat of the previous farce - led to unsavoury scenes outside St George's Hall. Again though, the right wing campaigners were vastly outnumbered.

The reality is the picture being used in an attempt to spark discontent does not show support for the far right in London, or indeed Liverpool.

And when those who spout such bile do come to Liverpool, they tend to leave in no doubt they are not welcome.

*These pictures below show people having a wonderful time in a great city celebrating a magnificent sporting success.

The far right may want them taken down. They may not care. But this is what was really going in the crowd captured in that newly-viral picture.