MANCHESTER UNITED and Liverpool are set to issue a joint appeal to supporters this week to ensure Sunday's emotionally charged game at Anfield is not disfigured by insensitive chanting.
The clubs had discussions last week and will step up the dialogue ahead of Liverpool's first home game since the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report absolved their fans of any blame for the 1989 disaster that claimed 96 lives.
Sir Alex Ferguson's plea for an end to mocking chants about the Hillsborough and Munich tragedies was ignored by a vocal minority of United fans on Saturday, when chants of "always the victims, never your fault" could be heard coming from the Stretford End.
The song highlights a perception among some United fans that their Liverpool counterparts refuse to accept responsibility for Hillsborough, or the Heysel tragedy four years earlier when 39 Juventus fans died.
It has fuelled concerns that Sunday's game could be marred by supporters trading insensitive chants.
United are understood to be waiting to hear what Liverpool are planning to mark the occasion and whether they will be invited to be involved in any pre-match tribute or ceremony.
United have received 2,774 tickets for Sunday's game, about 700 more than last season's fixture – ironically because of good behaviour.
Meanwhile, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was not in the mood to join the Paul Scholes appreciation society as Ferguson voiced his hopes that youngster Nick Powell could become the midfield maestro's successor.
Martinez said Scholes's 700th appearance in a United shirt should have ended in a red card – and that Danny Welbeck should also have been sent off.
Martinez also risked a rap from the FA by inferring that Michael Oliver, who at 27 is the youngest referee in the Premier League, is not experienced enough to handle the pressure at Old Trafford.
Scholes' often outrageously ill-timed and reckless tackling has long been a bit of a laughing matter among United fans, but Martinez did not see the funny side as Scholes escaped adding to his tally of 92 cautions, the third highest tally in the Premier League. Welbeck marred a vibrant performance by contriving a blatant dive to win United a penalty – missed by Javier Hernandez – then launching into a terrible tackle on Franco Di Santo that earned him a card Martinez felt should have been red.
"Scholes made two bad challenges that were both worthy of yellow cards, yet James McArthur got booked for a similar tackle," he said. "I don't understand how different rules seem to apply.
"Welbeck's tackle was reckless and dangerous and it should have been a red card. As for the penalty, it was as bad a decision as you will see in the Premier League.
Ferguson will no doubt have a quiet word with Welbeck about diving, but believes 18-year-old Powell, an £8 million recruit from Crewe, has the potential to fill the void when Scholes finally retires.