"You're not a Liverpool supporter, if you don't support".
Pep Lijnders did not mess around when asked about the so-called fans who levelled abuse at a 19-year-old who didn't have a particularly great game during a 7-2 victory in the Carabao Cup.
The player in question is highly-talented right-back Neco Williams, who came in for undeserved fearsome and at times personal criticism on social media following the third round victory against Lincoln City.
And Liverpool's assistant manager has hit out to tell those responsible that "abuse is wrong".
He said: “It’s not for me to comment on social media, however, abuse is wrong.
"Through social media and on the street - it's wrong. You're not a Liverpool supporter if you don't support."
Jurgen Klopp's right-hand man explained that true to form, the Liverpool dressing room rallied around Williams to show him they still have full faith in his talent.
And when Lijnders was asked if Klopp himself spoke to the teenager, he replied: "Yeah. In difficult times, if you say you’re a family and together, the most important thing is to make sure they feel the full faith when people say things that aren't right or in the right context.
“Sometimes you don't need words because they feel it already with what is around, but what's much more important is that Trent [Alexander-Arnold], Virgil [van Dijk] and Robbo [Andy Robertson] spoke with him.
"It's not only Jurgen or me, it's how we all take care of each other and that’s what makes us different."
