Liverpool and Manchester United fans unite in seventh minute in support of Cristiano Ronaldo

Liverpool and Manchester United supporters briefly put their bitter rivalry aside to unite for a heartbreaking tribute in support of Cristiano Ronaldo during their Premier League match at Anfield on Tuesday night.

United striker Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez announced on Monday that their newborn son, a twin, had died.

Ronaldo and Rodriguez wrote in a statement yesterday: "It is the greatest pain that any parents can feel."

"Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness."

The 37-year-old was absent from the match, with Manchester United writing in a statement: "Family is more important than everything and Ronaldo is supporting his loved ones at this immensely difficult time."

In the seventh minute of the match, supporters from both teams stood and applauded, with Liverpool fans singing the club's anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone.

Ronaldo's shirt number at Manchester United and throughout his career is seven and is closely associated with the Portuguese star through his CR7 brand.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp told Sky Sports after the match he "loved" the gesture.

"That's exactly how football should be," he said.

"All rivalry aside in this moment, there's only one thing [that is] important.

"Of course, all our thoughts from the moment we heard about it (the death) are with Cristiano and his family. I cannot even imagine how it must be and we really feel for him."

Manchester United's official Twitter account described the scene as "a moving tribute to [Ronaldo] and his loved ones".

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On the pitch Liverpool hammered their north-west rivals with another dominant display that moved them to the top of the Premier League table.

Luis Díaz had already opened the scoring for Liverpool before the tribute, netting in the fifth minute of the match after being set up by Mohamed Salah, who added Liverpool's second midway through the first half.

Trailing by two goals at the break, Manchester United looked a mile off the pace against their bitter rivals, and were not helped by the early exit of Paul Pogba, who limped off after just 10 minutes.

Manchester United slightly improved after the break, but Sadio Mané's 68th-minute strike snuffed out any remote hopes of a comeback.

Salah added some gloss to the scorelines by adding his second and Liverpool's fourth with a dinked finish with five minutes remaining.

Liverpool have now scored nine goals past Manchester United without reply this season.

The win was Liverpool's fifth over Manchester United in eight unbeaten Premier League matches.

Manchester City will have a chance to return to the top of the ladder tomorrow when it hosts Brighton at the City of Manchester Stadium.