Video footage emerged showing around five Manchester United supporters singing offensive chants mocking the death of Diogo Jota as crowds made their way to Old Trafford ahead of Sunday's clash with Liverpool.
The men were filmed chanting "Jota's gone, bye-bye" before the match, which United won 3-2.
Their behaviour attempted to undermine what was otherwise a mood of solidarity between the two rival clubs.
This was the first meeting between the sides at Old Trafford since the Portuguese forward and his brother Andre were killed in a car accident in northern Spain last summer.
Diogo Jota died last summer alongside his brother Andre after crashing his car
| REUTERSFellow United supporters swiftly distanced themselves from those captured in the footage, with many calling for the club to impose bans.
During the match itself, a significant number of home supporters chose to participate in Liverpool's minute of applause for Jota, which took place in the 20th minute to honour his squad number.
Reports had suggested that the Manchester United Supporters' Trust was approached about encouraging fans to join the tribute, though figures associated with MUST subsequently denied any such contact had been made.
Liverpool and United fans paid tribute to Diogo Jota during the Premier League match at the weekend
| PAThe gesture echoed a similar show of respect in 2022, when Liverpool supporters sang You'll Never Walk Alone in the seventh minute during a match against United, paying tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo following the death of his newborn son just a day earlier.
Prior to Sunday's fixture, former United manager Ruben Amorim, along with Portuguese internationals Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, had visited Anfield to lay floral tributes in memory of their compatriot.
Jota, who wore the number 20 shirt for Liverpool, lost his life alongside his brother in the collision last summer, prompting an outpouring of grief from across the footballing world.
The 20th-minute applause has become a poignant tradition at Liverpool matches since the tragedy, with the club's supporters using the timing to reflect his squad number.
A larger contingent of United fans ultimately chose to honour that moment of remembrance during the weekend's encounter.