Manchester City are awaiting further information from Merseyside Police before deciding on a potential investigation into chants from their supporters against Liverpool on Sunday.
Fans in the away end at Anfield were heard referencing the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies during the 1-0 win for Jurgen Klopp's side at the weekend.
A number of City fans were singing "Murderers" and "Always the victims" during the game, which was won by Mohamed Salah's second-half strike.
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Those slurs have long been associated with being in reference to Hillsborough and Heysel and staff at Anfield were also forced to deal with graffiti and vandalism on the concourses of the away end at full time that made similar remarks.
Liverpool were quick to release a statement on Sunday evening, branding the chants as "vile" and said they would be working with Manchester City to ensure such behaviour is eradicated going forward.
However, City have yet to call out the behaviour of their supporters publicly with a statement and the ECHO understands Etihad staff have now indicated they are awaiting the findings from both the police and their own security officers in attendance at Anfield before choosing their next steps.
In emails seen by the ECHO from City's supporter compliance department, they say they are committed to rooting out the "vile behaviour" of those using the deaths of football fans to point-score on the terraces.
It's unclear, however, how long it will take before City feel they have sufficient evidence from both police and security officers to act on the events at the Anfield Road end on Sunday.
It's the third time in six months that City fans have stood accused of mocking the deaths of Liverpool supporters at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough in 1989.
An investigation was launched after a pair of City fans were filmed making obscene gestures referencing the disaster in the direction of the Liverpool end after the final whistle of the 2-2 draw at the Etihad in April. City have said they identified the offenders and handed down "significant bans".
The FA Cup semi-final at Wembley later that month also saw similarly distasteful and deeply upsetting rhetoric, which did eventually bring a statement of apology from the Manchester club at the time.
An LFC statement, released on Sunday, read: "We are deeply disappointed to hear vile chants relating to football stadium tragedies from the away section during today’s game at Anfield. The concourse in the away section was also vandalised with graffiti of a similar nature.
"We know the impact such behaviour has on the families, survivors and all those associated with such disasters. We are working with the relevant authorities and we will also work with Manchester City in order to do our utmost to ensure these chants are eradicated from football altogether."
On an ill-tempered afternoon, City also alleged their team bus was attacked as it left Anfield on Sunday night. Their coach had been damaged by Liverpool fans throwing bottles ahead of their Champions League defeat at the stadium in 2018.
According to a report from the Manchester Evening News, City's windscreen was cracked after it was pelted en route back towards the M62 from Anfield Road, while Liverpool have also pledged to dish out bans for anyone found to have been throwing coins at Pep Guardiola during Sunday's game.
The ECHO has contacted Man City for a comment.
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