Liverpool promote global blindness charity for game against West Brom

Shirt sponsor change part of fundraising campaign

Liverpool's shirts will look slightly different to usual during tonight's game against West Brom, as they show their support for an international blindness charity.

Brendan Rodgers' men will have their shirts emblazoned with the logo of Seeing is Believing, a charity which battles avoidable blindness in developing countries. Seeing is Believing is run by the club's usual shirt sponsor, investment bank Standard Chartered.

After the match, the players will sign the shirts, to be auctioned off.

Club captain Steven Gerrard has been promoting the campaign, and made a video trying to play football with his eyes covered up.

Gerrard said: "You realise at the time how difficult it is without your sight. We were involved in a penalty shootout using a blindfold and it's so difficult.

"It was really enjoyable to take part and very important for myself and the club as well to play our part and try to help these people."

Liverpool did the same in their final home match last season against Chelsea, raising over £86,000.

Managing director Ian Ayre said: "We’re once again proud to display the Seeing is Believing logo on our home shirt.

"Since Standard Chartered became the club’s shirt sponsor, we’ve worked closely with them to raise awareness for Seeing is Believing, both in the developing world and here in the UK."

Last month, the club's local rivals Everton changed their shirt sponsor for a match against Aston Villa, to celebrate 25 years of the club's community, which works to support vulnerable people on Merseyside.

West Brom will go into tonight's match at Anfield on the back of five defeats in their last six games.

Skipper Chris Brunt says his side will emerge from their poor form now they face a less demanding schedule for the rest of the season.

Brunt said: 'We are going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment but, for a club our size and for the money we've got and spent, we are still ninth in the league, with 34 points.

'We are moving in the right direction but the last few weeks we haven't been great. We know that ourselves and know where we've got to improve to get it right.