Sir Alex Ferguson has demanded that the hostility between supporters of Manchester United and Liverpool comes to an end.

The two clubs have historically had a bitter rivalry with both teams enjoying large periods of dominance at the top of the English game.

The release of the Hillsborough report this week cleared Liverpool supporters of any blame in the 1989 tragedy in which 96 supporters died.

United and Liverpool square off at Anfield next week and the United boss is hopeful of forging a better relationship between the two sides.

He told reporters: “We are two great clubs, ourselves and Liverpool.  

“We should understand each other’s problems. Maybe a line will be drawn in the sand in terms of their behaviour towards each other.”