Pictured: Wembley arch shines in colours of Ukrainian flag in solidarity gesture

Wembley Stadium's arch was illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag on Friday night in solidarity following the invasion of the country by Russian armed forces. 

The national football stadium shone in yellow and blue at the start of a weekend when Ukrainian players are likely to feature in the Premier League. 

Wembley will on Sunday host the Carabao Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea, at the end of a week when Parliament has called for sanctions against Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich.

The English Football League said: "In a display of solidarity for Ukraine and the people impacted by the ongoing military action, the EFL and FA can confirm that Wembley Stadium’s arch has tonight been lit blue and yellow, ahead of the Carabao Cup Final weekend." 

In November 2015 the arch was illuminated in the colours of the French flag in a show of support after the Paris terror attacks. 

Earlier in the day, Manchester City confirmed Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko was ready to play at Everton where he will face compatriot Vitalii Mykolenko. 

In a message that has now been removed, Zinchenko was reported by the media organisation Zorya Londonsk to have posted a picture of Vladimir Putin with the words: “I hope you die the most painful suffering death, creature”. It was subsequently confirmed that Zinchenko's post about Putin was deleted by Instagram.

Everton's Mykolenko, who hails from Cherkasy where there has been Russian shelling, is expected to receive support from the Goodison Park crowd in the form of banners and flags. 

“He’s okay. I've spoken to him and the club have spoken to him and he has every bit of support we can give him,” Everton manager Frank Lampard said. “Who knows how we can help but he know the support