Liverpool Supporters 'Attacked Manchester City Fan Bus With Bricks' Before Hillsborough Anniversary Match

Manchester City fans have claimed Liverpool supporters hurled bricks at their bus as they made their way to Anfield for Sunday's crunch Premier League match.

Supporters say the bus, which was carrying 12 members of the Eccles Branch of the City Supporters Club, was going towards the Reds' stadium when a "gang of lads" wearing Liverpool shirts emerged from a side street and began throwing missiles at it.

The bus sustained smashed windows when rival fans hurled stones and bricks at the vehicle. No one was hurt during the incident but some of the passengers were said to be shocked.

Stewart Greatbank, secretary of the Eccles branch, told the Manchester Evening News those on board included a 14-year-old, 16-year-old and a 70-year-old woman.

He said: "A window was hit and smashed, with a 15-year-old lad sitting right by it.

"They seemed pretty shaken - the older ones were okay because they've been to plenty of away matches but the younger ones were shocked."

Streets near Anfield were busier than usual prior to yesterday's match as Liverpool fans created a carnival atmosphere to welcome their team's bus.

As well as being a crucial game in the destiny of the Premier League title race, the match fell just two days before the 96th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died.

Players and fans observed a minute's silence before the game in honour of the victims.