The Times:
Sir Alex Ferguson has made an impassioned plea for calm before Manchester United's meeting with Liverpool in the Barclays Premiership tomorrow. With the police threatening life bans for supporters who misbehave, United and Liverpool have joined forces in a bid to prevent a repeat of the bad blood that has marred their recent fixtures.
Mindful that defeat for Liverpool at Old Trafford could spell the end of their title challenge, a remarkable raft of measures agreed by David Gill, the United chief executive, and Rick Parry, his Liverpool counterpart, will be implemented to safeguard fans and to try to ensure that the meeting of English football's greatest rivals passes without incident.
A supporter from each club will exchange friendship pennants before kick-off and, in another gesture of goodwill, United have taken the extraordinary step of agreeing to line the concourse at the away end of the stadium with posters commemorating Liverpool's history, including their fifth European Cup triumph in Istanbul last year.
Eighteen Liverpool stewards will also be drafted in to supervise the visiting section of the ground and to assist the police and United's security staff. Liverpool fans will not be allowed to leave the stadium after the final whistle until Greater Manchester Police has dispersed all home supporters.
In addition, Roger Hunt, Ian Callaghan and Tommy Smith, the former Liverpool players, will participate in a pre-match tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton, who celebrates the 50th anniversary of his United debut this month, and disabled fans from both clubs will take part in a half-time penalty shoot-out.
Anyone who steps out of line could be banned for life from attending fixtures involving the clubs. "There will be a zero- tolerance policy," a police source told The Times. Despite the efforts of both clubs and the police, however, Ferguson has opted to use his programme notes to warn supporters about their behaviour.
"It's always a fiercely fought contest, but considering the intensity also one fought fairly," the United manager says. "The reason is because the players have a great respect for each other, a regard that I wish was shared a little more by the supporters of the two clubs. Of course there is a great rivalry among the fans and I understand that, but we must not let it run out of control.
"As well as the players, we want the fans to respect each other too. Even the toughest of rivals can shake hands and remain friends in sport."
The ill-feeling between supporters spilt over into violence after Liverpool's 1-0 FA Cup fifth-round victory at Anfield in February, when an ambulance carrying Alan Smith, who had suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle, was attacked by Liverpool fans, an incident that shocked even those familiar with the clubs' rivalry.