A man was found dead in an area where police are trying to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour.
The body of James Richards, 33, was discovered by a member of the public in Kirkdale just before 1pm on Wednesday.
He was found in a passage that separates homes on Woodbine Street and Harebell Street, which both lie off Stanley Road.
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Two men and a woman have been arrested in connection with his murder which police believe was a “targeted attack.”
The murder probe is the second significant investigation launched in the area in recent weeks.
It follows a drive by shooting on Stanley Road, near Pansy Street, in which two men were injured.
The men, one in his 30s and another in his 20s, were shot in the hands and legs on Wednesday, September 8.
They turned up at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the early hours of the morning with gunshot wounds, which were described as non-life threatening.
In July, Liverpool Council and Merseyside Police announced they were designating additional resources to the Flower Streets, the name given to a series of residential streets off Stanley Road, which have been blighted by crime and anti-social behaviour in recent years.
This came with the launch of a project called Safer Streets which takes a two-pronged approach to improving an area.
Work to fix CCTV, street lighting, clean up rubbish and remove graffiti is designed to make the area safer and create opportunities for officials to build trust among the vast majority of law-abiding residents.
Meanwhile, it is hoped police work targeting suspected troublemakers will reinforce that trust by showing officers are willing to act on information provided by those willing to come forward.
The work that has followed was funded with the help of Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, who said at the time: "This initiative is fantastic news for people living in the Flower Streets.
"No-one should feel unsafe in their home or the area where they live, but sadly the community here have had their lives blighted by crime, particularly drug-dealing, and anti-social behaviour in recent years."
Harebell Street, Woodbine Street and Reading Street remained sealed off by police on Friday as the murder probe continued.
A man and a woman, both aged 32 and both from Liverpool, were arrested in a significant development in that investigation on Thursday.
The suspects were each arrested on suspicion of murder, with the woman also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Details of the arrests came as detectives continued to appeal to the public for information.
Speaking on Wednesday, Detective Chief Inspector Cath Haggerty said: "We’re looking to establish exactly when and where the original attack happened, and therefore if the victim may made his way to where he was later found.
"Therefore, if you live in these streets or the surrounding area and saw, heard or captured anything from Tuesday into Wednesday, either on CCTV, doorbell or dashcam, let us know.
"We particularly want to hear from any taxi drivers who were in the area in the early hours of Tuesday that can come forward to support and with any dashcam.
“This incident has caused understandable distress within the local community, and we will be in the area to speak to people and offer reassurance.
"This is initially believed to have been a targeted attack, but we are keeping an open mind as to the motive, and the precise details of when and where, enquiries which are continuing today.
"We are determined to identify all of those responsible for this tragic incident, which has taken the life of a man and left devastation for family and friends, who we will be supporting at this time."
*Details can be sent to Merseyside Police via Twitter (@MerPolCC), Facebook (Merseyside Police Contact Centre) or by calling the force on 101, quoting the reference 21000660162.
Drivers can upload dashcam footage to be viewed by police here.
The independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online here
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