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Mohamed Salah has opened up about the emotional tribute paid to teammate Diogo Jota following his tragic death, describing the moment in front of the Kop as deeply moving.
Salah was visibly emotional as Liverpool paid tribute to Jota during their 4-2 win over Bournemouth. The Egyptian wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time and honored his late teammate by mimicking Jota’s iconic “crocodile” celebration.
The Premier League opener at Anfield became a moving backdrop for tributes to Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who passed away in July. Fans filled the stadium with emotion, singing a heartfelt rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and waving flags featuring Jota’s image. Players gathered in a huddle at the centre circle, continuing the tribute.
A perfectly observed moment of silence preceded a striking green, red and white mosaic in the Kop spelling out “DJ20,”
Tears streamed down Salah’s face as he stood alone on the edge of the penalty area, joining the thunderous applause echoing around Anfield.
Recalling the moment in a recent interview with Men in Blazers Salah said: "Once I stood in front of the Kop, they were singing for Diogo, then emotions come in my mind
"You try to handle it but then you can see many people in the Kop also showing their emotions. So then you start to break down a little bit.
"I thought it was quite tricky for me because I didn't prepare myself for that. It just happened that quick."
A banner on the Kop paid tribute to Jota’s family, reading: “Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda – Anfield will always be your home, You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
The forward had married his childhood sweetheart just 11 days before his passing, capping a remarkable season that included trophy-winning successes for both club and country. Jota played a key role in Liverpool’s 20th top-flight title triumph and was also part of Portugal’s squad that lifted the Nations League in June.
Paying tribute to Jota following his death, Salah said it was "going to be extremely difficult to accept."I am truly lost for words," said Salah. "Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break. Team-mates come and go but not like this.
"It's going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won't be there when we go back. My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children. Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten."
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