Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called a show of support for Cristiano Ronaldo during Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Manchester United a “match shot” as fans stood for a minute in solidarity with the Portuguese star following the death of his young son.
Ronaldo and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez announced last October that they were expecting twins, and on Monday announced the death of one of the twins.
And fans expressed their solidarity with Ronaldo, who did not play on Tuesday, in the seventh minute, with Liverpool fans chanting “You won’t walk alone” and United fans cheering as both teams wore black armbands.
Klopp told reporters: “Of course it was a match despite the great result we got. The seventh minute was the culmination of the match, when our fans showed their real metal.”
He added, “The whole stadium showed their original metal. There are many things in life that are more important than football. All our feelings are connected with Cristiano and his family,” Reuters reports.
Former England striker Gary Lineker praised the gesture, tweeting: “Beautiful, touching and heartfelt applause for Cristiano. Bravo to Liverpool fans.