Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is rated the most abused Premier League player on social media channels while Chelsea is the club with the greatest number of offensive posts on the internet.

The 24-year-old Italian received more than 8,000 discriminatory messages while Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck is the second most abused star with 1,700 discriminatory messages.

The top five Premier League clubs were also received the most abusive posts, with Chelsea 20,000, Liverpool 19,000, Arsenal 12,000 and Manchester United and Man City both getting 11,000.

The above shocking figures have been carried out by the anti-discrimination organisation, Kick It Out.

ICYMI: We published research on football-related hate crime on social media. Read more here: http://t.co/ZZn10z3Z4t pic.twitter.com/GN7OCKtWcP

— Kick It Out (@kickitout) April 17, 2015