By Rich Ward

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has written a letter to away fans calling for them to give their upmost respect to Liverpool supporters on Sunday when the two sides meet at Anfield.

The game is the first home match for Liverpool since the publication of a damning report into the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 of the team's fans were killed in 1989.

Tensions usually run high between the players and their supporters, and there has been widespread condemnation in recent days over abusive chants referencing both Hillsborough and the Munich air crash that left seven United players dead in 1958.

In his letter, which will be given to away fans as they enter Anfield, Sir Alex asks them to "think hard about what makes United the best club in the world".

"Our rivalry with Liverpool … should never be based on personal hatred," he said. "I know I can count on you to stand with us in the best traditions of the best fans in the game."

Another aggravating factor on Sunday will be the personal feud between United's Patrice Evra and Liverpool's Luis Suarez, which saw the pair refuse to shake hands last season.