Man Utd fans planning tribute to Diogo Jota during Liverpool game

Manchester United fans have been urged to join forces with fans of arch rivals Liverpool in a minute's applause for the late Diogo Jota.

United host their fiercest adversaries at Old Trafford on Sunday in a game that remains the biggest in English football, one which is always played against a backdrop of seething animosity.

But United fans are being urged to put hostilities to one side for 60 seconds on Sunday by joining Liverpool's away section in applauding Jota in the 20^th minute – in a symbolic nod to the number he wore with such distinction.

Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a car accident in Spain last July as they drove to catch a ferry to return to Liverpool for pre-season training, prompting a worldwide outpouring of grief for the Portugal star.

Days after the tragedy, then United boss Ruben Amorim, captain Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot - both Portugal team-mates of Jota - laid floral tributes at Anfield as a mark of respect for their tragic compatriot.

Liverpool fans showed their class at Anfield in 2022 when they stood and applauded Cristiano Ronaldo – in his second spell at United – after he and his partner Georgina Rodriguez suffered the tragic loss of one of their newborn twins.

In the wake of Jota's death, a United fan has proposed a reciprocal gesture and a powerful public demonstration of the club's high values by applauding at the 20-minute mark in Sunday's game, irrespective of the bitter rivalry and taunts that will be traded for the rest of the encounter.

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The proposal has been forwarded to the Manchester United Supporters' Trust [MUST] and it is understood some United players have been made aware of the plan. United have also been informed of the suggested tribute and have indicated that any such tribute should be a fan-led initiative, rather than a formal directive from the club.

MUST state they have not officially responded to or commented on the proposal, although the fan behind the idea did receive a direct response from a volunteer working for the supporter group, outlining the most effective way to take it forward.

That was the case back in 2022, when United faced Liverpool away, just 24 hours after the tragic announcement of the passing of Ronaldo's newborn son, a game the superstar missed as he grieved with his family.

But in his absence, Liverpool fans sang their club anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' in the seventh minute - Ronaldo's shirt number – of the match. A United shirt with Ronaldo's name and number was also held up in the away end.

Martin Tyler, commentating on the game, said poignantly at the time: “We can talk about this rivalry, which is as sharp as it can be at times in English football, but everyone is on the same page here - the page of condolences.”

Ronaldo's former United team-mate, Gary Neville, co-commentator, echoed that sentiment and said: “It's a massive touch of class that, from Liverpool”, while players from both sides wore black armbands.

Ronaldo took to Instagram to express his heartfelt thanks for the gesture and wrote: "One world... One sport... One global family... Thanks, Anfield. Me and my family will never forget this moment of respect and compassion.”