LIVERPOOL Football Club will pay tribute to former defender Gary Ablett with a minute’s applause before tonight’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Oldham.

Ablett died on New Year’s Day aged 46 after a 16-month battle against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Black armbands will also be worn by the players of Liverpool, for whom Ablett made 147 appearances and won two league titles and an FA Cup.

Merseyside rivals Everton, whom Ablett joined after leaving Anfield in 1992, have already opened books of condolence and announced earlier this week there will be a period of silence before Saturday’s cup tie at home to Tamworth.

The Goodison Park match will be attended by Ablett family members. Speaking earlier this week, Everton manager David Moyes said: “It was a really sad moment when I heard about Gary.

“He has been coming to our training ground quite regularly since he became ill.

“I went to see him in hospital when he first got diagnosed and since then I’ve kept a real close watch on how he is going.

“I think there were good signs at times but then we heard bad news at different times that he wasn’t so well.

“He was in with his boys not too long ago and he came and watched a bit of training - we tried to keep him involved as much as we could.

“But I think in his own mind, Gary probably knew himself - I’m sure he did.

“All I can say is that my thoughts are with his wife and family, and we will miss him greatly here.”

He added: “It is a great thing to be able to say that he played for both sides.

“They are both great clubs and I’m sure Gary was very proud of that.

“It just shows that you can do that and be respected from both sides of the city.”

Gary Ablett began his career at Liverpool FC and won two league titles and an FA Cup. He then moved to Everton FC, where he again lifted the FA Cup.

He made more than 100 appearances for both clubs before enjoying three years at Birmingham City.

He managed Stockport County from 2009 to 2010.

Tributes poured in from the world of football after the announcement of Ablett’s death.

Among those paying tribute were former Everton manager Howard Kendall – who signed the player in 1992 – his former Anfield team-mate Jan Molby, Liverpool FC manager Kenny Dalglish, former LFC manager Roy Evans, and former players such as David Fairclough, for Liverpool, and Pat Nevin, for Everton.