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• United manager makes no reference to Evra-Suárez affair
• Improved behaviour ensured bigger ticket allocation in FA Cup

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Manchester United’s supporters to behave themselves at Liverpool on Saturday – and ensure they back his team in the correct manner.

Improved behaviour by United fans at this season’s Premier League encounter between the north-west giants has led to a large increase in the percentage of their ticket allocation being released for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Anfield.

However, there are fears of problems as it will also be the first meeting between the teams since the race row exploded between Patrice Evra and Luis Suárez that ended with the Liverpool striker being hit by an eight-match suspension.

In a letter to supporters who have tickets for the game, Ferguson makes no reference to Evra or Suárez, or the row he has continually stressed would have no impact on relations between the two clubs. However, he has pleaded for “positive, witty and loud” support as his side attempt to reach the last 16.

“I wrote to fans attending the away match in October urging them to co-operate with stewards and officials at Liverpool so we can make a strong case for restoring our allocation for future United games at Anfield,” said the letter from Ferguson.

“The fans did almost everything asked of them that day and as a result, we have a much improved allocation for this important FA Cup tie.

“Please do everything you can to continue that good work and protect next season’s allocation by:

• Going to the seat that you’ve bought

• Not blocking aisles and gangways

• Respecting the stewards

• Following the ground regulations

“FA Cup ties are tense affairs at the best of times,” he added. “Add in the fact that Manchester United against Liverpool is the biggest game around and it becomes even more so.

“Your support is vital to the team and down the years that has been especially true at Anfield.

“But please put the emphasis on getting us into the next round and giving the sort of support you are famous for – positive, witty and loud.”

It had previously been suggested peace talks would take place between Liverpool and United officials over the bad blood that was spilled during the Evra-Suárez row.

Ferguson claimed he did not see the need for that and though there have been discussions, it is believed they centred around the game itself and were no more significant than they would be for any other match between the two clubs in recent years.

When the teams last met in the FA Cup at Anfield, in February 2006, there were widespread claims of mistreatment by the United fans, which it is hoped a massive police and stewarding presence will avoid on this occasion.

The visitors lost that time as well, and their hopes of victory this time around will not be helped by the injuries Nani and Phil Jones suffered at Arsenal on Sunday, although there have been suggestions the latter player’s ankle knock, which Ferguson suggested could keep him out for a number of weeks, might not be as serious as first suggested.

Manchester UnitedSir Alex FergusonLiverpoolFA Cup 2011-12FA Cup
guardian.co.uk

• City manager says reaction to penalty-area foul was ‘a mistake’
• Mancini signalled for Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel to be sent off

Roberto Mancini issued a public apology after admitting he had made “a mistake” by brandishing an imaginary red card during the 3-0 defeat of Liverpool that put Manchester City three points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Incensed by the referee Mike Jones’s decision to send off Gareth Barry, Mancini could be seen campaigning for Martin Skrtel also to be dismissed when the Liverpool defender gave away the penalty from which James Milner scored City’s third goal.

It was not the first time Mancini has plucked an imaginary card from his pocket during his two years at City and, having promised that he would not do it again, he admitted he had been in the wrong.

“In the moment maybe I did that because I was not happy with the referee but I made a mistake,” he said. “I was nervous, I didn’t agree with the referee for Gareth’s second yellow card and I did not understand why the penalty did not also have a card. I still do not understand but maybe I made a mistake.”

Mancini could otherwise reflect on a satisfying night in which his team rediscovered their scoring form on the back of their 1-0 defeat to Sunderland and the goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion.

“It was a great response in a difficult game because Liverpool are a fantastic team and they also had the advantage of having played four days ago when we had played two days ago,” he said.

“The result against Sunderland was crazy because we deserved to win that game 3-0 but I am pleased that we responded so well. We played very well and we showed spirit. In the second half we had some problems but we came through it and found a solution.”

Mancini identified Yaya Touré for special acclaim and could not hide his disappointment that the Ivory Coast international, along with his brother Kolo, will leave for the Africa Cup of Nations after Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United. “I will try to find another Yaya in the squad but the truth is there isn’t one,” he said.

“He is very important to the team, to the way we play, and he is a big influence on the side, so we will miss him. If we can still be top by the end of January I think we have a good chance of winning the title because, without Yaya and Kolo, it will be very difficult.”

Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, suggested there may have been something wrong with the ball when Pepe Reina allowed Sergio Agüero’s shot to squeeze beneath his body. “I noticed they changed the ball right after, so maybe that had something to do with it.”

He admitted his team had deserved to lose on another disappointing night for Andy Carroll, his £35m striker. “If you want to be a successful team, you have to be clinical. We’ve got to get that into our make-up. Tonight we never had that. It’s a lesson learned. We have to take it on the chin and make sure we don’t repeat it.”

Premier League 2011-12Roberto ManciniManchester CityLiverpoolPremier LeagueDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk

• Squad and manager wore shirts to show support for Suárez
• Critics say gesture conflicted with zero tolerance on racism

Liverpool’s manager Kenny Dalglish and his players have been criticised for reacting to Luis Suárez’s eight-game ban by wearing T-shirts showing their support for the striker.

Suárez received the ban plus a £40,000 fine from the Football Association having been found guilty by an independent regulatory commission of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra at Anfield on 15 October. His lawyer, Alejandro Balbi, said he would appeal against the punishment, stating: “The counts of racism that were made against him are not true. He will protest his innocence right to the end.”

The Uruguay international played in Liverpool’s goalless draw at Wigan on Wednesday night, before which his team-mates and manager wore the Suárez T-shirts. Dalglish said: “We stand right beside him. Always have done and always will do, and that was reflected in the support he got from the stands tonight and the players beforehand.”

The T-shirts provoked criticism that the gesture conflicted with football’s anti-racism campaign Kick It Out, confusing its zero tolerance message.

The former Manchester United defender Paul McGrath tweeted: “As ex footballer having experienced racist comments throughout my career I was saddened to see Liverpool players wear those tshirts … I would have been much happier if they had worn anti racist tshirts.”

The Blackburn striker Jason Roberts tweeted: “The stance on the Suárez issue from LFC has bemused me… are United going to print Evra shirts now????? Some issues are bigger than football.”

And the former Newcastle defender and anti-racism campaigner Olivier Bernard told Sky: “I really didn’t think it was fine to wear the T-shirts. I can understand the club’s side of it, but in society we can’t accept racism and give support to a player who has used racist words.

“It’s not OK to use racist language and the message they sent out yesterday was a bit wrong. I don’t mind them giving support to Mr Suárez, but I just think it’s a bit wrong to wear the T-shirt because that means they have allowed racist language. I just don’t understand it.”

But Dalglish defended the decision, saying: “I think the boys showed their respect and admiration for Luis. It is a great reflection of the man as a character, a person and a footballer that the boys have been so supportive and so have the supporters. He has earned that, has deserved it and we will always stand beside him. They will not divide the football club, no matter how hard they try.”

Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Jose Reina, added: “We are all right behind him. He has our full support. We were together from the very first minute of the allegations and [the T-shirts] were the minimum we can do for him.

“He is not racist. I am 100% he is not racist and he has been accused of racism. We showed our support to Luis. We want him and everyone to know we are right behind our team-mate because he is a lovely guy and he has been crucified by some people and it is not fair. Eight games is not even close to being fair.”

Luis SuárezKenny DalglishLiverpoolguardian.co.uk