Wolves make touching Diogo Jota tribute at Anfield before Liverpool game

Wolves stopped at Anfield ahead of facing Liverpool in the Premier League, making a touching tribute to Diogo Jota, a former player for both clubs, ahead of their meeting

Wolves players and staff visited Anfield to pay their respects to Diogo Jota.(Image: Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Players and staff from Wolverhampton Wanderers stopped at Anfield on Friday to pay tribute to Diogo Jota ahead of their game with Liverpool this weekend.

Jota played for Wolves before he made the move to Liverpool in 2020, and the two sides will meet on Saturday for the first time since his tragic passing. Jota scored 44 goals in 131 appearances for Wolves before going on to net 65 goals in total for the Reds.

Before the game at Anfield, Jota's sons will line up with the mascots from both clubs. In his program notes before Liverpool's final home fixture of 2025, manager Arne Slot said he hopes the affection Jota still creates can help his family continue to grieve.

"Reflecting on everything that has happened over the last 12 months ignites a rollercoaster of emotions but it is normal at this time of year to look back to everything that has happened," Slot writes.

"Doing so leads me to think especially of the family of Diogo Jota on what will be their first Christmas without him.

"It is not my place to tell them where they should look for comfort — if that is even possible — but I can only hope that the feeling of love and affection that Diogo still generates brings them some solace."

"It is a fact that you will be reminded about what happened each and every day because he’s part of us, he’s part of the club, he’s part of our brotherhood," Virgil van Dijk told The Times this week.

"Personally, my role was to observe a lot, see how everyone copes and deals with it. To hear things, speak to players, speak to certain staff members.

"We had a meeting with the team and said if anyone wants to speak up about their emotions, how they feel, we are here and will always be here.

"There are moments when it is tough because, like I said, you will remember Diogo whether you are prepared or not, whether you can cope with it at that time or not. It’s about how you then react, and the boys have been outstanding.

"The senior boys have discussed it and we want to obviously honour his legacy, not only for the next year, two years, three years. He needs to be remembered for ever and that’s something we’re going to discuss with the club, how we’re going to be able to do that.

"We have his locker here at the training ground, we have his locker at the stadium. The memorial at the stadium is coming.

"But I think we can do a lot more in terms of remembering him, and that’s something me and the senior boys will be looking after. And I feel that responsibility in order to make that happen, too."