Sir Alex Ferguson has reassured Liverpool that the club has his and Manchester United's full support ahead of a planned Hillsborough tribute when the sides meet in the Premier League on Sunday.
A minority of United supporters were berated by certain media outlets for airing the chant "Always the victim, it's never your fault" during their home win against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
It has been alleged the chant, which stemmed from Liverpool forward Luis Suárez racially abusing United left-back Patrice Evra and the Reds' subsequent handling of the situation, was purportedly aired to coincide with last week's report which exonerated Liverpool fans from any blame when 96 fans died during the Hillsborough disaster.
Ferguson, speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of United's Champions League opener against Galatasaray on Wednesday night, admitted it will be an "emotional" occasion.
"We will support them in every way we can," he said.
"As a club we are totally supportive of Liverpool in the situation they are in. We understand what those families must have felt when they got that report."
Ferguson was in attendance at Goodison Park on Monday night when Everton showed solidarity with their city rivals to commemorate the families of the 96 victims unearthing the truth 23 years on from the atrocity.
Ferguson with assistant Mike Phelan at Goodison on Monday night
The Scot also visited a shrine at Anfield in the aftermath of the fateful occasion in April 1989. Just two-and-a-half-years into his tenure as United manager, he requested the chance to pay his respects at the Kop End in the days after the tragedy occurred.
Ferguson said he "didn't hear" the chant on Saturday but admitted "others did, particularly in the directors' box. [Chief executive] David Gill was disappointed."
"It is a new chant that only started after the Suarez situation. I was disappointed to hear it. It is a minority. But in society there is a minority wanting to be heard."
At the 1977 FA Cup final, United supporters cheered the defeated Liverpool on their lap of honour ahead of their first European Cup final against Borussia Mönchengladbach in four days' time.
But the rise of hooliganism in the 1980s, coupled with Liverpool supporters baiting United fans about the 1958 Munich air disaster has intensified the rivalry, occasionally producing a toxic atmosphere in the stands.