Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has joined Manchester United counterpart Erik ten Hag in calling for an end to the "poison" of chants that have marred previous meetings between the sides.
The North West rivals face off once again on Sunday afternoon when United make the short trip down the East Lancs Road for the Premier League showdown at Anfield.
The fixture has long been sullied by songs referencing the tragedies of Munich, Heysel and, more recently, Hillsborough with both clubs having repeatedly spoken out against such chants and similar abuse online.
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And in a joint statement released on Saturday morning, Klopp and Ten Hag have called for supporters on both sides to create a memorable atmosphere at Anfield without resorting to such chants.
Klopp said: “One of the main reasons why the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United is so special is that it is so intense and no-one should ever want to change this. But at the same time, when the rivalry becomes too intense it can go to places that are not good for anyone and we do not need this.
“We do want the noise; we do want the occasion to be partisan and we do want the atmosphere to be electric. What we do not want is anything that goes beyond this and this applies especially to the kind of chants that have no place in football. If we can keep the passion and lose the poison, it will be so much better for everyone.”
Ten Hag said: “The rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool is one of the greatest in world football. We all love the passion of the fans when our teams meet, but there are lines that should not be crossed.
“It is unacceptable to use the loss of life — in relation to any tragedy — to score points, and it is time for it to stop. Those responsible tarnish not only the reputation of our clubs but also, importantly, the reputation of themselves, the fans, and our great cities.
“On behalf of myself, our players, and our staff, we ask our fans to focus on supporting the team on Sunday, and representing our club in the right way.”
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