League won’t scrap Old Trafford handshakes

The Premier League have no plans to cancel the pre-match handshakes ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool on Saturday, when Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez are likely to come face to face again.

PA Sport understands the handshakes will take place as planned at Old Trafford as the Premier League believes cancelling them would negate the point of having the tradition in the first place.

Saturday’s match will be the second encounter between Liverpool and United since Reds forward Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing United’s Evra last year. The Uruguayan was suspended for last month’s FA Cup tie between the two sides at Anfield, which Liverpool won 2-1.

Suarez’s ban has now expired and he returned to action in Monday’s league match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Last month, the Football Association elected to cancel the handshakes between QPR and Chelsea ahead of their FA Cup clash in an effort to ease tensions due to John Terry’s charge of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, an allegation the Chelsea captain denies.