The city of Liverpool will fall silent today as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

A minute's silence will take place across the city as it remembers the 96 football fans who tragically lost their lives at the 1989 FA Cup game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

The city's mayor Joe Anderson said Liverpudlians will "stand together in solidarity" at 3.06pm, the time the match at Sheffield's Hillsborough ground was halted.

Mr Anderson added: "The 96 have never been forgotten and even though this city is divided by our footballing allegiances, we have been united in supporting the families and Hillsborough survivors for the past 30 years, and will continue to do so."

However, while the city continues to remember, this year's commemorations have had to be scaled back due to ongoing legal proceedings.

Earlier this year, former Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, who was the match commander, stood trial for gross negligence manslaughter, a charge which he denied.

The jury failed to reach a verdict in his case, prompting the Crown Prosecution Service to seek a retrial.

A large event commemorating the 30th anniversary had been scheduled to take place outside St George's Hall on April 15, including speeches, performances and prayers.

However, following the announcement of a possible retrial, Liverpool City Council took the decision to cancel the event to avoid the risk of prejudicing any future proceedings.

Mr Anderson said: "The risk of the event inadvertently influencing any future decisions made regarding ongoing legal proceedings is a risk I do not want the city to take.

"Despite this being such an important milestone... we understand how sensitive the current environment is surrounding the case."

The decision has resulted in more subdued commemorations taking place across the city, including tributes to the fans who never returned home going on display at St George's Hall.

Banners with images of the 96 men, women and children who died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terrace have been hung outside the hall alongside the words "never forgotten".

A low-key wreath laying ceremony will also take place, with 96 lanterns being lit in memory of the victims.

Flags will also be flown at half-mast and the town hall bell will toll 96 times.

An afternoon service will take place at Liverpool Cathedral at 2.45pm on Monday and will include "simple prayers and a time for silent remembrance".

This year's commemorations are in contrast to the 20th anniversary of the disaster, which saw around 30,000 people gather at Anfield for a memorial service.

It was day charged with emotion and anger over the lack of action and one which saw Andy Burnham, the then secretary of state for culture, media and sport, booed and baracked when he spoke.

However, this has been credited by many as the prompt for the government to take action on Hillsborough, resulting in the Hillsborough independent panel being set up.

This year, there will be no service at the stadium, but the club has agreed to open up the Kop between 1pm and 4pm for fans who would like to "sit for a period of reflection".

Current team captain Jordan Henderson has also spoke of how important it is for the current team to continue to remember what happened that day.

In the matchday programme for Sunday's game against Chelsea, where a minute's silence will take place at kick-off, he wrote: "Like most of the first-team players I wasn’t born when 96 supporters of this club – men, women and children – attended a football match and never came home. 

"The passage of time doesn’t reduce the importance or significance, though. Every player who is privileged to represent this club knows they have a responsibility to learn about the impact of what happened at Hillsborough on April 15, 1989."

He added: "At Anfield today the entire club gets to come together to remember. 

"With us this afternoon will be families of those who died, survivors who were in the Leppings Lane end on that terrible day, supporters who witnessed the disaster unfold and players and management who were on the pitch and in the dugout while it was happening.

"As players we can’t pretend to share their pain, but we can and we must demonstrate that their memory is as much a part of our present and our future as it is our past."

Ex-Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell was on trial alongside Mr Duckenfield at Preston Crown Court.

He was found guilty of failing to take "reasonable care" of Liverpool fans and convicted of a health and safety charge linked to turnstile arrangements on April 15, 1989.

The former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary will be sentenced next month.

Mr Duckenfield and Mr Mackrell were charged in June 2017 after a fresh police investigation into the disaster.