Virgil van Dijk was praised for consoling Amara Nallo after the 18-year-old was sent off during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

The Reds captain was seen following Nallo down the tunnel after the youngster received a red card at Anfield on Wednesday, his second in just two competitive appearances for Liverpool.

Nallo, who came on in the second half of the Carabao Cup tie, lasted only 12 minutes on the pitch after bringing down Justin Devenny in the 79th minute as Palace broke through on goal.

The 18-year-old’s challenge denied a clear goalscoring opportunity for the visitors, leaving referee Craig Pawson with no choice but to show Nallo a second red card in his professional career.

Nallo had also lasted just four minutes on the pitch in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in January, when he was also sent off for a last-ditch challenge.

Van Dijk and Konate Console Amara Nallo

Amara Nallo

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock said he spotted Van Dijk walking down the tunnel after Nallo’s red card in the 3-0 defeat to Palace on Wednesday:

“What a horrible feeling for the youngster, Amara Nallo. There is nothing worse than knowing you have been sent off on your debut. Then there is the next game, you make an error and it leads to another sending off.

“I have just seen Virgil van Dijk walk down the tunnel. You have to try pick the youngster up.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking in his post-match press conference, revealed that both Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate consoled Nallo after his red card, praising the duo as ‘great human beings’.

Footage shared on X shows Nallo’s red card incident, with the 18-year-old bringing down Devenny, who was racing through on goal late in the second half.

Liverpool fell to their sixth defeat in seven games on Wednesday, with goals from Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino securing a convincing victory for Palace, their third in a row against the Reds this season.

Slot faced heavy criticism after making 10 changes from the side beaten 3-2 at Brentford on Saturday, naming eight teenagers in the squad, including three in his starting eleven.

Liverpool now face a challenging run of fixtures, hosting Aston Villa in the league on Saturday and Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.