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Ryan Babel pulled out one of Diogo Jota’s iconic celebrations after his winner for Liverpool Legends against Chelsea, having called upon supporters for some advice before the game.
The former Netherlands international struck the only goal of the game late on at Stamford Bridge as the Reds completed a double over the Blues, after a Peter Crouch double secured a 2-0 win for the Legends when the two sides met at Anfield back in March.
Goals were harder to come by on this occasion, although Diego Costa and Martin Skrtel provided plenty of fire to proceedings as they renewed their rivalries, 10 years on after coming to blows as players.
In the end, it was Skrtel and his teammates who would get the last laugh as Babel rolled back the years with a smart finish in front of the traveling supporters.
The 38-year-old celebrated by paying tribute to Jota with the clapping gesture Liverpool’s departed No.20 made famous during his time at Anfield.
Babel had asked Liverpool fans earlier in the day to pick his celebration if he scored, with a number of supporters suggesting he replicate one of Jota’s as a tribute to the forward following his death during the summer.
Various tributes have been paid to Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who also passed away in the car accident in the Spain, with a number of other players also producing the same celebration as Babel this season, including Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah.
Jota is perhaps best remembered for producing it after scoring in a 4-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park back in December 2021, when he scored the fourth before running over to the traveling fans while clapping.
Babel’s celebration comes after Kostas Tsimikas also paid tribute to Jota this week after scoring his first international goal for Greece against Scotland.
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The left-back held up two fingers after scoring, and explained after the game that it was not only a tribute to Jota, but also to his former international teammate George Baldock, who died last year.
"The goal I scored is dedicated to my close friend, Diogo Jota, of course, to Baldock, and also to those who are no longer with us," Tsimikas said.
Tsimikas' celebration wasn't his only tribute to Jota, as the on-loan Liverpool defender got a tattoo on his hand in memory of his former teammate. "Wish you were here," the tattoo reads on his hand, alongside Jota’s No. 20 jersey.
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