Manchester United have slashed Liverpool’s allocation for the Premier League fixture next weekend by almost a third, The Manchester Evening News reports. The Premier League champions see the visit of their old rivals, along with Luis Suarez in what is expected to be his second comeback game after an eight-game ban for racist abuse.
The abuse was directed towards United defender Patrice Evra, who was roundly booed at Anfield last weekend when the two sides met in the FA Cup. Suarez should expect the same treatment at Old Trafford, but will only be backed by 2,100 Liverpool fans as opposed to 3,100. United officials have suggested the reasons for cutting the tickets were safety-based and made the decision after talks with the police and Trafford council.
Many will see the decision as retaliation for Liverpool’s decision to reduce United’s allocation at Old Trafford to 1,965 tickets for the game at Anfield in October. Officials on Merseyside cited the reasons as persistent standing and blocking the alleyways as the reason and now United have cut the Reds tickets. In the game at Anfield, 17 fans were ejected and only two arrested, but with more fans at Old Trafford, there could be chance of much more trouble.
A spokesman for United said: ‘The safety of all fans is paramount and a detailed risk assessment of the match carried out by us and agreed by their Safety Advisory Group which includes Greater Manchester Police and Trafford Council has resulted in Liverpool receiving a reduced allocation for this specific game. This was considered necessary to allow for additional stewarding and segregation plans. The reduction may add to what is already set to be a potentially explosive atmosphere.’
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