Police forces to be ramped up at Old Trafford and hotel and team bus security to be tightened ahead of Man United vs Liverpool after last season's cancellation due to protestors

• Manchester United are preparing to host bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford
• Last season, before this fixture, protestors were able to break into the ground  
• This time measures are ramping up to ensure it does not happen again 
• Hotels and team buses will have extra security to avoid issues this weekend 

Security will be ramped up around the hotels and team buses used by Manchester United and Liverpool for Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford following the trouble that caused the same fixture to be called off last season.

The meeting of English football’s two biggest rivals was dramatically postponed in May after an anti-Glazer protest over the failed European Super League turned ugly and several hundred fans broke into the stadium.

Troublemakers blockaded the United players in their team hotel and then tried to disrupt the rearranged game 11 days later by slashing the tyres of a Liverpool team bus. 

Greater Manchester Police will have extra officers on duty and are expected to issue a statement on Saturday urging fans to behave at the high-risk Category C game.

Sportsmail understands there will be increased security around the hotels and coaches to prevent a repeat of the problems six months ago. A United spokesman said: ‘We don’t comment on security arrangements.’

Otherwise, sources say there haven’t been any discussions besides the usual dialogue between the clubs, police and local authorities for a fixture of this nature. 

No further fans’ protests are planned and the barricades that were put up around Old Trafford for the re-arranged fixture in May will not be used again.

The feeling is that anger over the ESL – United and Liverpool were among six English clubs who signed up to the breakaway league – has subsided and antipathy towards the Glazers is comparatively low.

Since the protests, United’s US owners have agreed to set up a fans’ advisory board and are in advanced talks over a fan share scheme, as well as spending £135million on new signings in the summer. Co-chairman Joel Glazer has also tried to engage with supporters by appearing at two fans’ forums.