Everton fans have laid out a wreath in front of the Hillsborough Memorial outside Anfield ahead of the Merseyside derby.
In what's been labelled as "a show of Scouse solidarity" between the local rivals, a Blues fan group met with their Liverpool counterparts at the Spirit of Shankly (SOS) to pay tribute to the 97 Reds fans who lost their lives as a result of the disaster on April 15, 1989.
The two sets of supporters were on hand to lay down the floral tributes at the Memorial around two hours before the start of the Anfield derby on Sunday afternoon.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp speaks out over vile Hillsborough chants aimed at Liverpool fans
READ MORE: Man City fan group write letter to club after Hillsborough silence disrupted
Last week marked the 33rd anniversary of Britain's worst football disaster but the planned minute's silence at Wembley as Liverpool met Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final was cut short when opposition fans chanted and sang during the mark of respect.
Supporters of Manchester United were also condemned on Tuesday after they resorted to using Hillsborough slurs while their side were being comfortably beaten 4-0 at Anfield.
Chair of SOS, Joe Blott, said the wreath laying was a symbol of the ongoing friendship between the two sets of local supporters ahead of the 240th fixture between the historic on-field rivals.
Mr Blott said: "In a week when, rightly, questions have been asked about the values of some football fans, this typical show of Scouse solidarity stands out.
"From chants of 'Merseyside, Merseyside' in the 80s to the iconic girl/boy blue/red 96 photo and now on a weekly basis Blues and Reds collecting food for people in our city - the Anfield base literally 100 yards from the Memorial - fan solidarity stands out as a way to reset the moral compass. Not only in football, but in society as a whole."
Jazz Bal, who is chairman of the Everton Fans’ Forum, added: “With the 33rd anniversary of Hillsborough fresh in our minds, we would like to show solidarity and let our Liverpool supporting family and friends know that we stand shoulder to shoulder with them.
"In the last few weeks, both teams have been on the receiving end of offensive chants, hopefully the atmosphere today remains respectful from both sides, as some things are bigger than football.”
Manchester City were forced to offer a public apology to Liverpool in the wake of their supporters' behaviour at Wembley last week, saying they were "extremely disappointed with the actions" of some within their fanbase.
“This doesn't represent who we want to be. We stand alongside Liverpool Football Club. The statement represents who we are," City boss Pep Guardiola said.
United were also forced into a belated statement of their own after some of their followers made reference to The S*n newspaper and their coverage in the aftermath of the tragedy that wrongly blamed Liverpool fans for the disaster.
The abhorrent chanting came around an hour after Liverpool fans had paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo's new-born son, who tragically passed away recently, a mark of respect the United star said he and his family would never forget.
"Manchester United stands in solidarity with Liverpool FC and its fans in remembering the victims of the Hillsborough disaster," a United spokesperson said. "Offensive chants about the tragedy are completely unacceptable and we will work with our supporters’ groups to educate fans on the issue."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp used his pre-match programme notes ahead of Sunday's derby to outline his disappointment over the recent of incidents that have mocked the death of 97 football fans.
Klopp wrote: "Throughout my career as a player and a manager, I have always tried to be as positive as I possibly can be about football supporters. Not for PR or for selfish reasons; it is because, more than anything else, I am a football supporter myself and because I know the unbelievable difference that fans make to a sport that I absolutely love.
"I never expected perfection but I always believe that in general supporters will be a force for good because that is almost always what they are. Which is why I am unbelievably disappointed that of late we have heard more and more songs being sung about the Hillsborough disaster. Really? The deaths of 97 people in a tragedy is now something that can be mocked? How did this happen?
"We have staff at the club who lost loved ones at Hillsborough. There are supporters in the crowd at all of our games who lost friends or family members themselves or who survived the tragedy. They have already suffered more than enough. No-one should think it is okay to make them suffer more because it absolutely is not.
"So I will say this very clearly: If you are going to a football match to sing about people losing their lives you really should not bother coming. Football does not want this and football does not need this."
