Sir Alex Ferguson: 'Sunday will be emotional'

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his belief that Sunday's match against Liverpool will be an emotionally charged affair.

The match will be Liverpool's first home match since the truth surrounding the Hillsborough tragedy was revealed.

The club will make a number of tributes to mark the occasion, and Ferguson compared it to the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster when United played Manchester City, saying that the occasion is likely to have an impact on the players.

"It's a possibility, I don't deny that," said Ferguson.

"Human nature can be that way. When we played Manchester City for the 50th anniversary of Munich the place was so flat in the dressing room before the game. I even felt it myself.

"We just couldn't perform and were glad to get it out the way. It was such an emotional day for us and it could be that way on Sunday."

Ferguson has already voiced his support of Liverpool over the disaster, and pleaded with United fans to ignore the rivalry between the two clubs while respecting the occasion.