Virgil van Dijk’s gesture seconds after Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United was spotted following the result.
Van Dijk was unable to inspire his side to yet another Carabao Cup triumph, having scored the winner in last season’s final against Chelsea.
Newcastle ran out 2-1 winners on Sunday, with goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak ending the club’s 70-year wait for a trophy.
Burn headed home just before the break as Isak doubled his team’s advantage seven minutes after the interval. Federico Chiesa pulled one back following a VAR review.
Despite the disappointing defeat at Wembley Stadium, Van Dijk produced a glassy gesture to Burn and the rest of the Newcastle squad.
According to Stephen Warnock, Van Dijk showed ‘respect’ to every Newcastle player by shaking their hand following the final whistle.
“There was an embrace between Virgil van Dijk and Dan Burn,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Van Dijk stood at the Newcastle huddle – he went around and shook every player’s hand.
“He respected what Newcastle have done today.
“Class. A sign of respect for Newcastle.”
Van Dijk played the entire game as Liverpool suffered their second defeat in a row following their Champions League elimination.
As for Newcastle, the club ended their wait for a major trophy and their performance pleased Eddie Howe.
“I am very, very emotional and have been all day, which is very unlike me. We knew what was at stake for all of our fans. We wanted to do them proud and win the trophy,” he said after the game.
“I am so, so pleased with the result and performance. We deserved to win but it was tough when Liverpool scored. I was thinking about extra time. We always make it difficult for ourselves. It was never going to be 2-0.”
Howe added: “We were well aware of history. We wanted to do the club proud. We wanted to score. We wanted to perform, we wanted to win. We are breaking new ground. I thought we were magnificent.”
