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Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 in the last Premier League meeting between the Merseyside rivals on April 2, with Diogo Jota scoring the only goal.
His goal after 57 minutes was enough to restore Liverpool's 12-point lead before lifting the Premier League title, but sadly, it was his final goal for the club. Liverpool hosts Everton again on Saturday, and it's set to be an emotional occasion.
Liverpool has continued its momentum from last season and has a perfect record heading into Saturday's game, but Jota's strike will be fresh in the minds of everyone at Anfield. Liverpool fans continued to honor Jota's legacy in the Champions League on Wednesday, as his name was sung in the 20th minute during a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid.
The soccer world continues to mourn the loss of Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, who died in a fatal car accident in July. The tragic death came just weeks after Jota celebrated winning the Premier League title, and he also celebrated winning the UEFA Nations League with Portugal.
Liverpool was cruising toward the title last season and held a nine-point lead at the top of the table. However, Jota put Liverpool within touching distance after scoring the decisive goal against Everton in a scrappy Merseyside derby.
While Liverpool and Everton share a bitter rivalry, both teams and their supporters came together to mourn Jota's passing. Red and blue filled Jota's memorial outside Anfield, and Everton players Beto and Youssef Chermiti laid flowers in a touching tribute.
The rivalry exists on the field, but Liverpool head coach Arne Slot commended Everton ahead of Saturday's game. "Indeed, there is rivalry, but what I also like and I want to emphasise is what they did when Diogo passed away, being there and showing their respect," Slot said.
Beto was born in Portugal but represents Guinea-Bissau at the international level. When he joined Everton from Udinese in 2023, he had no prior relationship with Jota, but the former Liverpool star was the first person to text him.
"We were not friends, but you know, when you play against Portuguese players and everything, we normally speak a little bit," Beto said. "You have Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, these guys, but when I signed for Everton, he [Jota] was the first guy who texted me.
"He just said: 'I'm happy for you. If you need anything on the city, everything, I can help you, just give me a shout.' After every game we played against Liverpool, we'd talk a little bit, so when Everton showed the interest for me to go to the stadium, I said: 'I go, I go.'
"Not just because he was Portuguese and we understand each other, but he was a really nice person, humble. I saw a togetherness between Everton and Liverpool. Not between clubs, but more between fans, you know?
"A lot of Everton fans were sad because even if he's a rival, life is more than football." Beto still expects to be treated as a rival when facing Liverpool on Saturday, but insists that he has a lot of respect for the club and its wider community.
"If I go to Anfield on a Saturday and they boo me, it's normal," Beto added. "They're not going to be thinking: 'Oh, Beto is a good guy because he went to lay flowers for Diogo.' It's not the same.
"But when it matters, when it was about life, they were there because they are human. Of course, I have respect for Diogo and the Liverpool community. I go there to play and to win, and I will not try to have any action that shows them disrespect because when I went there, they showed me respect."
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