Liverpool’s 3-0 Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Crystal Palace was a night to forget — but one man’s quiet act of leadership stood out amid the disappointment.Manager Arne Slot confirmed that club captain Virgil van Dijk, who wasn’t part of the matchday squad, made a touching gesture behind the scenes following the Reds’ defeat.Slot made sweeping changes to his lineup, keeping only Milos Kerkez from the weekend loss to Brentford. The youthful side featured teenage talents Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, and Kieran Morrison, while Freddie Woodman and Morrison both made their senior debuts.But it was Crystal Palace who took control in the pouring rain, with Ismaila Sarr scoring twice before halftime. Despite Federico Chiesa trying to spark life into Liverpool’s attack, the Reds managed just one shot on target all evening.Things worsened when 18-year-old Amara Nallo received a red card in the 79th minute for a last-man challenge — his second dismissal in as many senior appearances for the club.After the final whistle, Slot revealed that Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté immediately stepped in to console the distraught youngster.> “I didn’t have to say much to him,” Slot told reporters. “Ibou and Virgil went straight over to talk to him — that shows the kind of people they are.”Liverpool will aim to bounce back quickly as they shift focus to their Premier League clash with Aston Villa this weekend.
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