Hillsborough Anniversary: Gary Lineker, Caroline Wozniacki and Manchester United lead tributes as Liverpool remember the 96

Messages of remembrance come in on the 26th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster

The 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster (Twitter)

Today marks the 26th anniversary of the tragic Hillsborough disaster that claimed the lives of 96 football fans who travelled to the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest as the Hillsborough Stadium.

A memorial service will be held at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium, with the Reds’ captain Steven Gerrard set to be joined by Everton skipper Phil Jagielka to release 96 balloons in order to remember those lost 26 years ago.

While many will travel to Anfield to pay their respects to the victims and the ongoing battle to seek justice via an inquest into what exactly happened on 15 April 1989, a number won’t be able to and have instead posted their respects on social media.

The hash-tag #JFT96 is already to top trend in the United Kingdom, with current footballers, ex-pros, fans and other well-known names leading the tributes to the 96 fans that went to a game and never returned.

Below is a selection of tributes made on social media:

Liverpool and Newcastle players held a minute's silence at Anfield on Monday night (Getty Images)

The remembrance ceremony at Anfield begins at 2.45pm with a minute's silence to be held at 3.06pm.