Liverpool and Manchester City have urged fans to help stamp out ‘unacceptable behaviour’ ahead of their Carabao Cup tie.
Thursday’s fourth round clash at the Etihad Stadium marks the first meeting between the teams since October’s tempestuous Premier League encounter.
Anfield chiefs condemned the use of Heysel and Hillsborough in taunts by City fans, whose manager Pep Guardiola was allegedly subjected to coin throwing.
The Premier League champions also claimed that their team coach suffered damage from attacks on the vehicle as it departed Anfield after the game.
In efforts to defuse the current bad blood surrounding the fixture, senior officials and fan representatives from both clubs have held peace talks.
Reds CEO Billy Hogan and City’s Ferran Soriano have signed a letter sent to remind supporters of their responsibilities and report inappropriate behaviour.
“The passion and enthusiasm that we see from our fans when we play each other – at the Etihad Stadium or Anfield – is part of what makes matches between our clubs so special,’ the letter reads.
“We know you are committed to creating a stadium environment where everyone is welcomed, accepted and has a fantastic matchday experience.
“Regrettably, based on recent meetings between our clubs, we also know that a minority of fans are responsible for behaviours and actions that have no place in our game.
“We are therefore writing to ask for your full support in tackling these behaviours and to ensure that both of our clubs’ good names are preserved.”
They added: “It is important for everyone to be aware that we are fully committed to dealing with unacceptable behaviours and will take action by issuing bans to those found to be responsible.
“We have engaged the chairs from both our respective fan groups in our discussions and have their full backing to help create the right environment for our matches.
“We appreciate that some fans may not be aware of the impact of their behaviours on other fans, both inside and outside the stadium, and we will continue to work with our fans on this education.”