A giant mural paying tribute to Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been vandalised ahead of Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby.

The three-storey-high artwork, located on the corner of Anfield Road, near the stadium where the Reds host Everton in the Premier League tonight, was arranged by The Anfield Wrap, a Liverpool supporters podcast, and appeared over the summer.

The piece, drawn by French graffiti artist ‘Aske’, depicts the England full-back wearing last season’s Champions League-winning strip, paying homage to one of the club’s homegrown heroes, and was designed to help promote the Fans Supporting Foodbanks initiative.

However, the bottom portion of the mural has been defaced with the word ‘Kopites’ – a nickname for Liverpool fans – sprayed in blue paint.

Alexander-Arnold this week finished inside the top 20 in the voting for the Ballon d’Or award, which was won by Barcelona star Lionel Messi, with Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk in second.

Earlier this year, Rupert’s Tower, the iconic landmark which appears on Everton’s club crest, was vandalised with references to Liverpool’s sixth Champions League win.