• 'Stop Hillsborough chants,' says United's manager • 'Liverpool-United is the biggest game of the season'

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Sir Alex Ferguson has called for Manchester United fans to respect Liverpool and cease singing about the Hillsborough disaster.

Ferguson takes his team to Anfield on Saturday lunchtime and has requested United fans stop chants about the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough at which 96 Liverpool supporters died.

"I always consider this to be the game of the season in English football," Ferguson said. "We need each other. Respect should be adhered to. Shouts of Hillsborough don't do either club any good."

His comments come after last month's Carling Cup match between Leeds and Manchester United at Elland Road.

The game was marred by chants about the 1958 Munich air disaster, in which 11 United players and staff were killed, and Leeds's game at Galatasaray in 2000 when two of the Yorkshire club's supporters were stabbed to death.