Manchester United versus Liverpool: the fiercest rivalry in all of global football. Is it derby match as well? Well, it’s often referred to as the “Northwest England Derby.” Whether it’s “a rivalry” or “a derby” or both, emotions run high on both sides. There will be a lot of tension and acrimony on Saturday night, not just amongst the players on the pitch, but also the supporters in the stands.
With the kickoff time coming later in the day, the next edition gives fans more time to consume alcohol and that prompted local police to issue a warning.
Greater Manchester Police issued the following statement ahead of the match:
“As always the TV cameras and media will be focused on one of the biggest club fixtures in the world. We hope that supporters from both sides act in a responsible manner and enjoy the game, no matter what the result.”
“The aim is to ensure that everyone enjoys the match and the day passes off safely. Recent league fixtures at Old Trafford between United and Liverpool have passed without incident and this is something that I hope we can achieve again for this game.”
“Many issues experienced by fans can be overcome by effective communication and in order to build upon good relations from previous seasons, the Football Supporters Federation, Spirit of Shankly, Liverpool FC Supporters Committee and Manchester United Supporters Trust [have already been met with] to talk through some aspects of the policing operation.”
So there you go, Manchester United and Liverpool fans heading to Old Trafford on Saturday, you’ve been warned.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition.He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 the Zone.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram