Carrick hopes focus is on football

Michael Carrick is crossing his fingers that all everyone is talking about after Sunday's Barclays Premier League showdown between Manchester United and Liverpool is the football.

Luis Suarez's first meeting with Patrice Evra since he snubbed a handshake offer at Old Trafford in February would be reason enough for concern. However, tensions will be even higher due to it being the first game at Anfield since the damning judgement on the Hillsborough tragedy was released last week.

"After what has gone on there is added responsibility on the players for everything to go smoothly," Carrick said.

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