No end in sight to tensions over Suarez

The simmering tension between Liverpool and Manchester United looks unlikely to be resolved before the two teams play each other next month.

A meeting has been suggested in order to clear the air following the long-running feud over Luis Suarez's racism row with Patrice Evra. Liverpool officials fear the Uruguayan striker could be more abused verbally than any other visiting player at Old Trafford. Suarez will have completed his suspension by then, which raises further complications in terms of the pre-game handshake when the pair could come face-to-face for the first time since the row blew up.

Liverpool had been contemplating the possibility of opening talks with their counterparts from Old Trafford to attempt to bridge the divide between the two great rivals.

However, even in accepting the punishment for Suarez earlier this week they have avoided any suggestion of apologising to the Manchester United left-back.

A bullish Sir Alex Ferguson said there had been no contact from Liverpool directly to his club and was annoyed that they had not made an approach. "It is nice of them to do it through the press," the United manager said facetiously. "You would have thought they would come to Manchester United first. I do not see why there is any need for it. I have nothing to say about it."

Asked further about the situation, he replied: "To be honest, I think you should ask Liverpool that, not me."