Old rivalries were put aside today as Liverpool and Manchester United met at Anfield for the Merseyside club's first home match since publication of the report into the Hillsborough disaster.
The Hillsborough Independent Panel absolved the club's supporters of any responsibility for the 1989 tragedy, which claimed 96 lives, and criticised South Yorkshire Police.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and United defender Patrick Evra ensured a reconciliatory start to the afternoon as they joined the other players in a pre-match handshake.
Suarez was found guilty last December by an independent regulatory commission of racially abusing Evra and banned for eight games by the Football Association.
The Uruguayan attacker, who denied the charge against him, refused to shake French defender Evra's hand when the teams played at Old Trafford in February.
Players of both teams wore the number 96 on their tracksuit tops in tribute to those who died.
Liverpool supporters have campaigned for years for "Justice for the 96".
United legend Sir Bobby Charlton carried a bouquet of 96 roses to hand to former top Liverpool striker Ian Rush, and captains Steven Gerrard and Ryan Giggs released 96 red balloons.
Fans applauded in memory of those who died and a mosaic was displayed around three sides of the ground during the traditional playing of Liverpool anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone".
Parties including United manager Sir Alex Ferguson have urged supporters of the clubs, who share one of football's great rivalries to behave, amid concern some of the cruel chants about the Hillsborough stadium tragedy and Munich air disaster which have surfaced in the past could feature again.
Before the match, Sir Alex told Sky Sports: "We have made all the appeals to our fans that we can do.
"We hope that is adhered to, in respect of the situation that Liverpool find themselves in, at this moment in time, the travesty of the whole thing, and I think that we and Liverpool, as two of the most successful clubs in Great Britain, have to show that unity."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: "This is our chance to show that respect and pay those tributes to the families and to the survivors."
The pair shook hands and wished each other luck.
Early signs of how the fans would behave were encouraging.
While some United fans sang anti-Liverpool songs on their way into the stadium, none made any reference to Hillsborough.
In addition, their supporters applauded when a tribute to the Hillsborough families was read out before kick-off.
Once the game started both sets of fans traded insults, although a refrain of "Where's your famous Munich song" from the United fans drew boos.
The peaceful atmosphere was dented after 39 minutes when Liverpool's Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a wild challenge on United defender Jonny Evans.
Shelvey seemed to berate Sir Alex as he walked off, with Sir Alex only smiling in response.
In the end, United won 2-1, after going behind to a well-taken Steven Gerrard volley in front of the Kop.
The lead was short-lived, as within five minutes United were level when Shinji Kagawa laid the ball off for Rafael to brilliantly curl left-footed over Jose Reina and in off the far post.
Daniel Agger and Johnson collided to allow Antonio Valencia to race 50 yards into the area and although Johnson got back he could only bring down the Ecuador international. Van Persie drilled home - although Jose Reina went the right way and almost made the stop.
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PA | Posted: 23/09/2012 15:24 Updated: 23/09/2012 16:19