Manchester City wear ‘No War’ T-shirts as Everton players carry Ukraine flags onto pitch

Manchester City’s players wore T-shirts bearing the message ‘No War’ while Everton’s squad draped Ukraine flags over their shoulders before Saturday evening’s Premier League clash.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine and the conflict has already reached capital city Kyiv, with at least 198 civilians having died so far.

The Premier League has several notable Ukrainians playing in the division, with national team captain and City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko going up against compatriot Vitaly Mykolenko at Goodison Park on Saturday.

For the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit our live blog: Russia-Ukraine live

As well as all the players showing solidarity with their teammates – and the people of Ukraine – Everton also ditched their usual pre-match Z-Cars air-raid siren due to the conflict in Ukraine and played The Hollies hit He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother instead.

Zinchenko joined a vigil outside Manchester’s Central Library on Thursday in support of his homeland, with the building lit up in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag.

The 25-year-old has posted a host of messages on social media condemning Putin’s actions and City offered to give him time off, but Zinchenko made himself available for selection.

Asked about the defender’s state of mind, Manchester City boss Guardiola said: ‘It’s a worry, what we feel with our country where we were born. Killing innocent people, how would you feel? I guess that’s how he feels.

‘Of course it’s close to him. Of course he has our support. It happened in the country he was born, the country he loves, it’s attacked from outside. He’s tough and knows we are here.’

Mykolenko only moved to Merseyside in