Virgil van Dijk criticised the small number of Crystal Palace fans who disturbed a silence in tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva before the Community Shield at Wembley.
The brothers died on 3 July in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, after a suspected tyre blowout. The tragedy occurred only 11 days after Jota, a 28-year-old father of three, had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso.
While the majority of Palace fans stood and respectfully observed the silence, a small group could be heard chanting “Eagles”. Other Palace supporters urged them to be quiet and Liverpool fans at the other end of the stadium booed, before the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the tribute.
“Disappointing,” Van Dijk said. “That’s the only thing I can say. I don’t know who did that. There were plenty trying to shush it down but that didn’t help it. It is what it is.
“How many fans were there, 80,000? It’s disappointing to hear that, but if those people can go home and be proud and happy then…”
After the game, which Palace won via a penalty shootout, the Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, defended the Palace fans involved, suggesting they may not have been aware of the tribute.
“I am a positive person and if I look at the respect that has been paid to them both from everywhere around the world, this is what I have in my head,” said Slot. “I don’t think this was planned or it was the idea of the fan that made some noise. Maybe he wasn’t aware that it was a minute of silence. He was just still happy and tried to cheer for his team. Then the fans of Palace were trying to calm that person or those persons down. I don’t think he had a bad intention the guy or people that made noise.
“Our fans reacted with ‘ey, what’s happening here?’ So I don’t think there is a bad intention to it because the fans of Crystal Palace and fans around the world have paid huge respect to Diogo and Andre. This was an unlucky… I don’t think there was bad intention.”
Liverpool will play their first Premier League game since Jota’s death when the new season begins on Friday night.
“We will see Friday when Bournemouth come to our stadium how respectful that will be,” Slot added. “It’s also one, one and a half month ago I think, five weeks ago. That’s why maybe this fan was just so happy for them to be here in the Charity Shield that he forgot in that second.”