Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has sent a message to Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, wishing the forward and his family "a lot of peace of mind" after the death of his newborn son.
Ronaldo sat out United's league game at Liverpool after issuing a joint statement with partner Georgina Rodriguez.. A number of Liverpool fans sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" in the seventh minute of the match, in support of the veteran forward, and Ronaldo's family members sent thanks to those involved.
Tributes have rung out from across the football world, including from a number of Ronaldo's fellow Premier League players. And Alisson, speaking after his team's victory, sent his support to the former Real Madrid star.
"This beautiful gesture from our fans shows that, at these times, rivalry must be put aside," Alisson said, as reported by Globo. "I deeply regret what happened to Cristiano Ronaldo's family and I know that the pain he, his wife and all the loved ones around him are in is very great.
"Any gesture of affection, like this, helps at this moment. From the bottom of my heart, I wish a lot of peace of mind for him and his entire family."
Ronaldo's sister Elma also shared the footage on social media, showing her appreciation. “Thank you for this Liverpool. We will never forget what you did today," she wrote.
Ronaldo and Rodriguez had earlier described the loss of their son as "The greatest pain that any parents can feel," saying "Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness.
"We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for all their expert care and support," their joint statement continued. "We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly ask for privacy at this very difficult time.
"Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.”
Liverpool's victory on Tuesday was a comprehensive one, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice and Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane also on target. It helped them complete a league double over United while also keeping up the pressure on title rivals Manchester City.
"We had another almost perfect performance collectively," Alisson said of the display. "We had a very strong rhythm in the beginning, we built a good advantage and we left the field with the victory. Winning a classic like this, even more with this score, gives us even more motivation for this final stretch of the season, where each game is a decision."
Liverpool will return to Premier League action on Sunday, hosting Everton in the Merseyside Derby. They remain in the running for an historic quadruple, having won the Carabao Cup and kept themselves alive in the FA Cup and Champions League.
