Sir Alex, Gerrard seek peace

• Manchester United and Liverpool appeal for calm in powder-keg FA Cup ties as police stay vigilant

London

The fabled romance of the FA Cup will be thoroughly put to the test on Saturday as one of the most potentially explosive fourth rounds in years kicks off after mounting appeals for calm.

All eyes will be on Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool and Chelsea’s short hop across west London to Queens Park Rangers as the four clubs meet for the first time since becoming embroiled in twin racism controversies earlier this season.

Sir Alex Ferguson this week called for United fans to be on their best behaviour when they travel to Anfield in the first collision between the bitter northwest rivals since the Luis Suarez affair.

“FA Cup ties are tense affairs at the best of times,” Ferguson wrote in a letter to United fans this week. “Add in the fact that Manchester United against Liverpool is the biggest game around and it becomes even more so.

“Your support is vital to the team and down the years that has been especially true at Anfield.

“But please put the emphasis on getting us into the next round and giving the sort of support you are famous for - positive, witty and loud.”

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard echoed Ferguson’s comments. “Liverpool and Manchester United is a massive rivalry and of course there is going to be stuff in the newspapers and banter between fans,” Gerrard said.

But the enduring tribalism between the clubs — brought into sharp focus by the Suarez saga — suggests Ferguson and Gerrard’s pleas may prove to be futile.

Liverpool striker Suarez, who was banned for eight matches after a disciplinary tribunal found him guilty of racially abusing United defender Patrice Evra, remains suspended and will miss the tie.

But Ferguson is expected to have no qualms about pitching Evra into the Anfield bearpit despite the fact the French international has become a hate figure for many Liverpool fans who insist Suarez was innocent of wrongdoing.

Former United defender Viv Anderson, first black football player to represent England in a full international match, is convinced Evra will have few problems dealing with the incendiary nature of the occasion.

“Patrice should definitely play, 100 percent,” Anderson said. “There will be a backlash, but he did nothing wrong, so why should he not play?”

Meanwhile officials from QPR and Chelsea joined forces this week in an attempt to keep a lid on the acrimony surrounding their first meeting since an ill-tempered Premier League derby in October.

Rangers’ victory in a game that saw Chelsea reduced to nine men was largely forgotten after the allegations of racism made against Chelsea captain John Terry following the game.