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• Fan appears to make monkey signs
• Photograph is circulated on Twitter

Liverpool knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup but were put on the defensive when the question of racism again raised its head at Anfield. An image of a Liverpool fan appearing to make an offensive monkey gesture in the direction of Patrice Evra was circulated on Twitter, prompting Merseyside police to investigate.

Patrice Evra, who became embroiled in a row that led to Luis Suárez being found guilty of racially abusing the United defender in the 1-1 draw on 15 October, was booed loudly every time he touched the ball during the Cup tie, which Liverpool won 2–1.

“This matter is now under investigation by specialist hate crime detectives and we are working with Liverpool Football Club to identify the man in question,” said the match commander, Ch Supt Jon Ward, while Liverpool asked supporters who may be able to help to contact the club.

When Kenny Dalglish was asked what he thought of Evra’s every touch being booed, the Liverpool manager responded: “Are you winding me up?” He added: “Why would I be disappointed for Patrice Evra? I can’t believe you have asked that question before anything else. Have you ever played football? I used to get booed.

“The media has played its part this week in trying to maintain dignity and respect on the pitch and to concentrate on the game. The behaviour of both sets of players on the pitch was a credit to the game. There was banter between the two sets of fans but it was friendly. There may not have been a lot of respect, but both sets of supporters were brilliant. I don’t think there was anything there that was untoward.”

The Kop joined in several choruses of “There’s only one lying bastard”, putting into words what appeared to be the underlying theme of Liverpool’s defence of Suárez.

Queens Park Rangers players took a collective decision to back Anton Ferdinand by not shaking hands with their opponents before their Cup tie with Chelsea at Loftus Road, which they lost 1–0. However, the Football Association chose to discard the usual pre-match convention. The issue was a concern due to John Terry being accused of making a racially abusive slur at Ferdinand in October. Terry will answer the charge, which he denies, at West London magistrates’ court on

The Manchester United goalkeeper showed that he has overcome his uncertain start to life in the Premier League

When it is Liverpool and Manchester United, no opportunity is too good to pass up when it comes to taking malicious pleasure from your rival’s discomfort. Rio Ferdinand – defender, cheerleader, wind-up merchant – encouraged Danny Welbeck to turn his back to the away end at the final whistle and pointed triumphantly at his team-mate’s shirt. No prizes for guessing Welbeck’s number on a day when United’s supporters had armed themselves with gloating “19″ banners.

Sir Alex Ferguson opted for a more subtle form of put-down, with a different target in mind. United, he said, had “played all the top teams now”, as if it was a trick of the imagination that Manchester City, their opponents next weekend, are in the process of bulldozing a way to the forefront of English football. This was the weekend City climbed above United to the top of the league but – classic Ferguson – there was no recognition of City’s new status, just as there will be precious few compliments from his side of the fence this week.

The general point Ferguson was trying to make was a genuine one, though, and

• ‘It doesn’t matter who scored’ says Javier Hernández
• Mexican praises David de Gea for performance at Liverpool

Javier Hernández insists he is no hero despite coming off the bench to salvage a point for Manchester United at Liverpool on Saturday.

The Mexican has endured a fitful opening to his second Premier League campaign. His pre-season was halted by the concussion he suffered on his first day of training after making a belated arrival to the club’s North American tour in July.

Hernández eventually made his first competitive appearance at the end of August, only to pick up knocks against Chelsea and Stoke City that ruled him out of more matches.

His poacher’s instinct clearly remains intact, though, judging by the way he took the second-half opportunity afforded to him at Anfield, when Danny Welbeck flicked on Nani’s corner.

It was Hernández’s third goal of the season and secured a 1-1 draw which, even if it was not enough to prevent Manchester City going top of the table, at least preserved United’s unbeaten record ahead of next weekend’s Old Trafford derby.

“I scored a goal but it is Manchester United that scored,” said the 23-year-old. “It doesn’t matter who scored the goals. There are no heroes here.”

There is no denying Hernández helped to change the flow of a typically tight affair that only came to life once Steven Gerrard sent his free-kick through the gap Ryan Giggs created when he split from the United wall.

“It is part of the game,” said Hernández on United’s defence not doing their job. “Gerrard scored a similar goal to that at Old Trafford last season, so we need to work a little bit more on it.”

United were also indebted in the later stages of the game to David de Gea, who denied Dirk Kuyt and Jordan Henderson. It cemented a view that it had been De