IT promises to be an emotionally-charged afternoon at Anfield tomorrow. Liverpool’s first home game since the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report was published will be marked with tributes to the 96 and a show of support and respect for the families who fought with such courage and dignity to ensure the truth was finally told.

Skippers Steven Gerrard and Nemanja Vidic will release 96 red balloons shortly before kick-off, while mosaics on three sides of the stadium will display ‘The Truth’, ‘Justice’ and ‘96’.

It’s fitting that Kenny Dalglish will be back at Anfield to take his place among a capacity crowd with the Kop legend and his wife Marina having done so much to comfort those affected by the tragedy – both in the immediate aftermath and over the 23 years which have followed it.

Representatives of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, Hillsborough Justice Campaign and Hope for Hillsborough will be guests of honour.

The fact that Manchester United are the visitors raised understandable concerns that the occasion could be marred by the kind of unsavoury chants which have dogged this fixture in recent years. Those fears grew after hearing what echoed around Old Trafford last weekend.

However, United deserve great credit for the way they have responded to that this week in a bid to ensure there is no repeat at Anfield.

United have been proactive to diffuse tensions and their desire to play a part in honouring those who lost their lives at Hillsborough has been greatly appreciated by Liverpool.

Alex Ferguson’s open letter to United supporters, which will be distributed at the turnstiles tomorrow, is to be applauded.

He wrote: “Our rivalry with Liverpool is based on a determination to come out on top – a wish to see us crowned the best against a team that held that honour for so long.

“It cannot and should never be based on personal hatred. Just ten days ago, we heard the terrible, damning truth about the deaths of 96 fans who went to watch their team try and reach the FA Cup final and never came back.

“What happened to them should wake the conscience of everyone connected with the game. Our great club stands with our great neighbours Liverpool today to remember that loss and pay tribute to their campaign for justice.”

There was also an editorial on the back page of yesterday’s Manchester Evening News under the headline “Show Respect” and an interview with captain Vidic in which he said: “I am aware of the sensitivity of the day. We both have a history and we’re both respected in the world. We have to keep it like that. We should respect each other.”

The fierce rivalry between the country’s two most successful clubs is to be cherished. No-one wants to dampen down that intensity but there is a line which has been crossed too often in recent years and it needs to stop.

The wider footballing community has rallied round Liverpool after learning of the lies which the authorities peddled for so long to try to hide their own incompetence.

There’s been a chilling realisation that Hillsborough could have happened to their club. It’s possible that United’s fans would have been in the Leppings End that day had they got past Nottingham Forest in the quarter-final.

There’s been a heart-warming show of solidarity – epitomised by those scenes at Goodison Park on Monday night – and we want that to continue tomorrow.

Players as well as supporters have a responsibility to ensure a poignant afternoon isn’t marred by controversy. There’s no place for vendettas after the bad blood created by recent meetings between the sides.

Energies and emotions must be channelled in the right manner. The eyes of the world will be on Anfield tomorrow afternoon.

And the hope is that two proud clubs will come together to play their part in an occasion which is remembered all for the right reasons.