Man Utd fans applaud furious Raphael Varane for gesture after Liverpool defeat

Rafael Varane directed his teammates to applaud Manchester United fans after their humiliating loss to Liverpool on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool trounced Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield. Goals from Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Darwin Nunez, as well as a late strike from Roberto Firmino, rounded up a spectacular triumph for the hosts. It is Liverpool’s biggest victory over their hated rivals.

Erik ten Hag, United’s manager, described his team’s performance as “unprofessional” after they conceded six goals in the second half. Varane’s teammates were eager to leave the field after full-time, but the Frenchman insisted on them applauding the visiting fans.

United players began creeping down the Anfield tunnel without clapping their supporters after shaking hands with the opposition and officials. Most United fans had already departed Merseyside to make the short journey back to Manchester at this point.

Nonetheless, there were a few hundred visitors. A few United players made it off the field without saluting their dejected fans, while others sought to make their way to the locker room. Varane became aware of this.

The World Cup winner yelled at his teammates and pointed at the United supporters. They then proceeded to the away section, while the two players who had managed to sneak down the tunnel returned to the field to join in.

Varane’s bark was so loud that it could be heard from the press box, as evidenced by a social media video. It says a lot, considering Anfield was still packed with happy Liverpool fans. United assistant Steve McClaren also directed the players to the opposing end. Those spectators who were still on the ground applauded and clapped back.

Varane was spared the job of speaking to the press full-time, but Ten Hag was not so lucky. “That was a terrible terrible performance and the worst of the year,” United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“We lost the game at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, but you have to keep your head up, and we didn’t. It’s all about demonstrating discipline, which we didn’t do, and that’s when you start giving up goals. It’s a completely unprofessional and unneeded performance. You’re supposed to do your job, and we didn’t.”

Ten Hag also addressed a message to United fans. “That was challenging, and we really have to appreciate them,” he added. I can’t blame them for leaving because it was such a poor effort; I’m embarrassed for the fans today.”

Bruno Fernandes, United’s stand-in captain, urged his teammates to “get back up” after the defeat. “It’s incredibly annoying, disappointing, and sad because it’s a pretty awful result,” he told Sky Sports. Before the game, we arrived here with a different mindset.”

“The games are coming thick and fast,” Fernandes remarked. We’ve suffered setbacks in the past, and we need to recover swiftly this time. This is what Manchester United is all about; we can fall, but we must rise again.”