MANCHESTER United will discuss security with police for the game against Liverpool on Saturday.

The talks follow claims that a gang of arrested terror suspects had planned an attack at the match.

Old Trafford officials stress the meeting is normal practice. But concerns that the stadium may have been a prime target will be looked at during the discussion.

Greater Manchester police today confirmed they were investigating the potential targets for the gang of al Qaida terrorist suspects who were arrested in dawn raids yesterday.

Senior officers are refusing to rule out that one may have been the United/Liverpool football match.

The probe into which targets were potentially selected will now centre on paperwork and other files of information taken from the proper-ties which were raided.

The suspects were arrested after a long operation involving more than 400 officers including anti-terrorism experts.

Six men and a woman were arrested in Manchester, three other men were arrested in Staffordshire, South Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

They are being quizzed on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

The investigation is focusing on the Manchester area and which locations the gang, who are north African and Iraqi Kurdish, may have been targeting.

When asked whether the match was a possible target, a Greater Manchester police spokeswoman said the force could neither "con-firm or deny" the claim due to the "highly sensitive" nature of the inquiry.

Officials at Old Trafford will be speaking to police about security for Saturday's fixture in the next few days, when they will decide if anything different should be done for the game.

Club spokesman Phil Townsend said the club had yet to receive warnings from police and refused to comment on suggestions it would be an obvious objective for terrorists planning an attack in the city.

He said: "We are in discussions with police regarding security at the ground but these are the routine discussions we would have on any match day.

"Decisions regarding security are normally made on match days."

Reports have also claimed that the Trafford Centre shopping mall and Manchester City's new home were possible targets.

Manchester City spokesman Paul Tyrrell refused to comment on the possibility of the City of Manchester football stadium being a terrorist target.

He said: "Clearly it is a matter for the security services and should be handled by the police."

Liverpool Football Club also refused to comment.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Whatton, of Greater Manchester police, said the raids were part of an "ongoing operation related to the threat of terrorism".

He added: "It is part of an ongoing operation that has been under way for some time and will continue in the future. "This is the first action that the public have become aware of as it is overt but nothing should be read into that.

"At this time we have nine men and one woman in custody. Our inquiries lead us to believe they are of Iraqi Kurd and North African origin.

"They are in police custody and will be interviewed as part of the ongoing inquiry."

One of yesterday's raids took place above at a flat above a takeaway food shop, called Dolphins, near Manchester city centre.

Irfaan Arif, 24, and his cousin Muhammad Tahir, 24, who run AK Computers next to the takeaway, were woken when the police raided the properties at 3.30am.

Mr Arif said: "We heard lots of banging and shouting and general noise. We went to the window and looked outside and there were loads of police there.

"There were about 10 police officers outside and some inside.

"I went downstairs and opened up the shutter of the shop but was told by an officer to go inside."

Following the arrests in Manchester a spokeswoman for Merseyside police said they had not been contacted.

Reds fans say they won't be frightened off

LIVERPOOL fans today vowed to follow their club to Old Trafford for Saturday's clash with Manchester United, despite fears the ground could be a terrorist target.

Liverpool season ticket holder Dave Rankin, of Crosby, told the ECHO: "This will not put me off going. It is a bit worrying, but I would hope that if there is anything to it, they will be searching people on their way into the ground.

"This will be at the back of my mind, but I expect most fans to turn out to the game as usual."

Liverpool FC declined to comment, while Manchester United have denied Old Trafford is a target for terrorists.

But Liverpool supporter Matt Henderson, of Form-by, said: "It is quite scary. I am not going to the game on Saturday because I couldn't get tickets, but a few of my mates are going.

"This is such a high-profile game, with 70,000 supporters, you can see why terrorists might target it. "I think some of my friends might have second thoughts about going to the game. It could be risky."

Richard Pedder, from the Liverpool supporters' club, said fans should carry on as normal and support their club.

Steve McLoughlin, 30, from Kirkdale, a Kop season ticket holder, said: "There would have to be real concrete proof of a terror threat before any fan would give up his ticket.

"The police, FA or clubs are more likely to cancel the games rather than let the fans make that decision.

"I don't think there is any danger the game will be cancelled."