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Liverpool paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota at Anfield on Monday ahead of their pre-season doubleheader against Athletic Club Bilbao.
Jota tragically passed away alongside his brother in a car crash in Spain early last month, sending shockwaves throughout the sporting world. The premature passing of the 28-year-old has profoundly impacted the Reds and their fans, who are keen to remember one of their 2024/25 Premier League-winning heroes.
Immediately following his passing, fans and rival club representatives flocked to Anfield to lay flowers and pay tribute to Jota. Liverpool fans sang his name during their pre-season game against Preston North End.
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The Reds have also immortalized Jota, retiring his No. 20 jersey. Ahead of Liverpool's first game back at Anfield since his passing, the club paid tribute to Jota once more before proceedings got underway against Bilbao.
The matchday programme was dedicated to Jota. "Forever our number 20," it read, with a picture of Jota celebrating a goal. Fans wrote messages on brick walls outside Anfield and laid flowers, scarves, and flags. A Jota mural has already been painted on the side of a house nearby Anfield, but another one could be seen being worked on as fans flocked to the iconic ground.
Ahead of kickoff, Liverpool legend Phil Thompson was joined by Bilbao president Jon Uriarte in laying a wreath on the pitch in front of the Kop End ahead of the first match. "Rest in peace Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, You'll Never Walk Alone," read the billboard around the side of the pitch, while fans chanted Jota's name.
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