Steven Gerrard has urged Luis Suarez to lead the way ahead of Sunday's

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged Luis Suarez to lead the way ahead of Sunday's clash between Liverpool and Manchester United and shake hands with Patrice Evra.

Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra: The infamous non-handshake

Liverpool play their first home match since publication of the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel - which absolved the club's supporters of any responsibility for the 1989 disaster - against their bitter rivals and there have been pleas all week for both sets of fans to respect each other.

However, with an already emotional afternoon set, it could ignite early as Suarez and Evra will be in spotlight for the pre-match handshakes. The Uruguayan refused to shake Evra's hand when the teams played at Old Trafford in February after he had been found guilty last December by an independent regulatory commission of racially abusing the Frenchman and given an eight-game ban.

Steven Gerrard wants fans and players to keep calm despite their opening day defeat at West Brom.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard wants fans and players to keep calm despite their opening day defeat at West Brom.

PA PhotosSteven Gerrard: Forward thinking

The Reds had Daniel Agger dismissed as he pulled down Shane Long when through goal, but Gerrard wants to look to the next game.

"The feeling after was one of total shock with the result. It was never a 3-0 game,'' said the England international.

"I fancied us to go there, dominate and win but things didn't work out thatway. In football you can be left feeling hard done by. It's not the start we wanted but it's no time for panic. It's only the first game and it was one bad day at the office. We've got to look at the bigger picture. There's been so much hope around the place and rightly so.''