Diogo Jota tribute unveiled by Wolves fans as Liverpool away end issues response

Liverpool and Wolves fans came together in the first Premier League clash between the sides at Molineux since the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, who played for both clubs

Diogo Jota's children look on during the tribute to their father during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Wolves at Anfield.(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Liverpool and Wolves fans came together in the 18th minute of the first Premier League clash between the sides at Molineux since the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.

Jota played a combined 313 times for Liverpool and Wolves during his time in England after signing for the Midlands club from FC Porto in the summer of 2017. He wore the number 18 jersey during his time at Wolves, hence the period of applause in that minute of the game.

Wolves fans in the home end held up a large banner with chants of 'Diogo' emerging, which drew applause. Liverpool fans in the away end also joined in, with a banner in their section reading 'Obrigado Diogo, forever our number 20'.

In the 20th minute, Liverpool fans sang their Jota song, with the Wolves fans clapping along. Further tributes in the form of smaller banners are planned for the meeting in the FA Cup on Friday.

In its first home game of the new Premier League season, Wolves had paid tribute to Jota.

The club produced a remarkable tribute on that occasion as the Midlands outfit unveiled a huge tifo from the top of Molineux's South Bank stand ahead of the team's Premier League opener against Manchester City.

It portrayed Jota celebrating a goal during his Wolves days. The Portuguese international spent three seasons at Molineux between 2017 and 2020, playing a key role in restoring and establishing Wolves' status as a Premier League club.

Alongside the tifo, a banner was held up on the pitch which contained the words: "We'll remember you when you walk in fields of gold."

Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, was in attendance for the game between Wolves and Manchester City. She was joined by Ruben Neves, a former Wolves teammate of Jota in England.

The parents of Jota and Andre Silva, who died alongside his brother in a car crash in Spain, were also in attendance for the fixture in August. Isabel and Joaquim Silva were moved to tears in the stands.

As the clock ticked past the 18-minute mark in the game, fans around the stadium rose and applauded for 60 seconds in tribute to Jota, who wore the number 18 jersey for Wolves.

And a similar tribute was delivered here as Liverpool took on Wolves for the first time this season at Molineux.

Liverpool retired Jota's number 20 jersey last summer.

Asked whether his passing would motivate Portugal to claim World Cup glory in the USA, Canada and Mexico this summer, former international teammate Rafael Leao told CBS Sports last week: "Every game we think about him. Always after a game, he was there celebrating and if he could score a goal. And every game we think about him."