Man City and Liverpool release joint statement calling for calm from fans ahead of Carabao Cup clash amid heated rivalry

MANCHESTER CITY and Liverpool have pleaded for their fans to not cause trouble when they meet in the Carabao Cup’s fourth round on Thursday.

Recent meetings between the Prem giants have been marred by the behaviour of the two sets of supporters.

Manchester City said their team bus was targeted by Liverpool fans ahead of their match at Anfield in OctoberGetty

In October at Anfield, City boss Pep Guardiola was pelted with coins by Reds fans, while the visitors also said their team bus was damaged for a third time.

And Liverpool issued a statement condemning chants about the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters from City’s following.

This morning an email jointly signed by both clubs urged both sets of supporters to report any issues and help keep the peace at this week’s cup tie.

It explains: “[We] know 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.”

Reds legend Jamie Carragher said earlier this year that Liverpool versus Manchester City is now the greatest rivalry in English football history.

Both clubs have gone toe-to-toe for the last five Prem titles with City winning four and the Reds one.

The rivalry was not helped when City swooped to sign Liverpool’s superstar winger Raheem Sterling in 2015.

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And relations were also hit when City’s team bus came under attack ahead of a Champions League clash in 2018.

Significant damage was done to the vehicle but nobody was arrested, and Uefa issued a £17, 500 fine.