Wout Weghorst has released a statement explaining why he appeared to touch the 'This is Anfield' sign as he made his way onto the pitch on Sunday.
Footage emerged on Tuesday of Weghorst reaching up to touch the sign as the players make their way from the tunnel out onto the Anfield pitch.
The sign is an iconic part of Anfield but opposition players rarely touch it and Weghorst has been criticised for doing so ahead of Manchester United's 7-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
He was the only player in Erik ten Hag's team to do so. READ MORE: Fernandes must change to keep United captaincy But Weghorst has now explained his actions and said it was an attempt to stop Virgil van Dijk, an international teammate of the United striker, from touching the sign to try and 'wind him up' before kick-off.
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