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Liverpool continues to hold Diogo Jota in its thoughts. Andy Robertson said recently that he and his teammates will probably never truly get over the forward's tragic passing, following the car accident which also claimed the life of his brother Andre Silva.
Through a Herculean effort, the squad has somehow managed to go about its usual job, performing to the very highest of standards. But that does not mean things are any less difficult for everyone involved at the club.
If there is one crumb of comfort, it is that Jota is immortalized in memory. He wrote himself into the folklore of one of the biggest clubs in the world — and at Anfield, there is a concerted effort to ensure that nobody ever forgets the number 20, with the latest post to mark the anniversary of his signing the latest in a whole host of tributes.
Today would have been Jota's fifth anniversary at Liverpool. He arrived from Wolves in the summer of 2020, off the back of the Reds' maiden Premier League title.
It was fitting that Jota got to experience that triumph for himself before his time was brought to a cruel end. His last days were truly happy ones, marked not only by a trophy parade through the streets of the city, but also marriage to his long-term partner.
Of course, the family that he leaves behind makes Jota's death all the more heartbreaking. But football has rallied around his loved ones, with Chelsea donating a portion of its Club World Cup winnings, and Ruben Neves pledging in a moving tribute to look after those that the Liverpool star left behind.
Meanwhile, Liverpool has worked hard to secure his legacy. As well as retiring the number 20, it has recycled all of the many thousands of artefacts left outside Anfield in his honor, with plans to turn them into a permanent sculpture.
And on September 19th, five years after he joined, Liverpool has shared a post across its social channels. Alongside a photo of the striker making a heart sign with his hands — a pose now also immortalized in mural form — it wrote:
"On this day in 2020, Diogo Jota became a Red. Always in our hearts. Forever our number 20."
Shortly afterward, the club also posted a video of Jota's first goal for Liverpool. That came against Arsenal, against whom he scored for the Reds a total of seven times.
Two of those came in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final in 2021/22, crucial strikes on the way to Jota's first piece of silverware with Liverpool. He also memorably bagged a brace in a 30-minute cameo at the Emirates in his debut season.
His eye for big goals will be the abiding memory for many fans. Arne Slot admitted after the first match of the season that his instinct when Liverpool needed a winner was to look for Jota.
Liverpool players, staff and fans will now carry Jota with them permanently. But the club will no doubt continue to take time to specifically remember him at various times of significance.
And today only marks Jota's first five years with Liverpool. As the club says, he is now forever our number 20.
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