Rivalries shelved for Anfield match

Sep 23 2012

Old rivalries were put aside as Liverpool and Manchester United met at Anfield for the Merseyside club's first home match since publication of the report into the Hillsborough disaster.

The Hillsborough Independent Panel absolved the club's supporters of any responsibility for the 1989 tragedy, which claimed 96 lives, and criticised South Yorkshire Police.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and United defender Patrick Evra ensured a reconciliatory start to the afternoon as they joined the other players in a pre-match handshake.

Suarez was found guilty last December by an independent regulatory commission of racially abusing Evra and banned for eight games by the Football Association.

The Uruguayan attacker, who denied the charge against him, refused to shake French defender Evra's hand when the teams played at Old Trafford in February.

Players of both teams wore the number 96 on their tracksuit tops in tribute to those who died.

Liverpool supporters have campaigned for years for "Justice for the 96".

United legend Sir Bobby Charlton carried a bouquet of 96 roses to hand to former top Liverpool striker Ian Rush, and captains Steven Gerrard and Ryan Giggs released 96 red balloons.

Fans applauded in memory of those who died and a mosaic was displayed around three sides of the ground during the traditional playing of Liverpool anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone".

Parties including United manager Sir Alex Ferguson have urged supporters of the clubs, who share one of football's great rivalries to behave, amid concern some of the cruel chants about the Hillsborough stadium tragedy and Munich air disaster which have surfaced in the past could feature again.