Former Manchester United defender Viv Anderson says Patrice Evra can handle the heat of a return to Liverpool on Sunday. Sensitivities remain high in the wake of the race row that surrounded the last game on Merseyside in October, when Evra accused striker Luis Suarez of racist abuse.

Anderson, England's first black international, told the Daily Mail: "Patrice should definitely play, 100%.

"There will be a backlash, but he did nothing wrong, so why should he not play?

"He is experienced enough and old enough to deal with it. It won't be the first time he's been verbally attacked.

"If you cannot deal with it then you are never going to make a career for yourself. Patrice is at Manchester United playing in the Premier League and is a French international.

"He has proved he is able to stand up to all the outside pressures that have been heaped on him as he's built his career. It is not right you have to put up with racial abuse, but I am sure it has happened to him in the past.

"I don't think playing at Anfield after what has gone on will bother him. There will always be something else around the corner, and if you keep worrying about something then you will fold and disappear."