A man has admitted posting racist tweets about Liverpool FC player Mo Salah.

Gary Hyland, 32, pleaded guilty to racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment and obstructing an officer in the execution of his duty at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Friday, a spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The spokesman said Hyland, who is reportedly an Everton FC fan, posted the offensive tweets during a discussion with Liverpool fans at 3.40am on August 6.

He joked about the Muslim striker praying to Mecca at half time and posted a picture of him with a suicide vest superimposed on his body, the CPS said.

Merseyside Police arrested Hyland at his home in Church Road, Waterloo, two days later.

The court heard he told officers: "I know I'll get charged. It was me."

He became obstructive with police on the way to the custody suite.

Sophie Leyland, of Mersey Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Hyland admitted his guilt at an early stage and in comments to officers on arrest.

"He admitted what he'd done was stupid.

"But these sorts of remarks fuel racial hatred and are extremely offensive to people from the race or religion that they are aimed at."

Hyland will be sentenced on August 30.