Liverpool Honor Injured Star Diogo Jota with Heartfelt Tributes in Preston Victory
Four fresh recruits made their first appearances, various new strategic approaches were tested, and a teenage record-setter lived up to expectations as Liverpool commenced their preparations for the 2025–26 season. However, attention on Sunday at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium was seldom focused on the match itself.
Liverpool's 3–1 victory will always be remembered as the team's initial match following the heartbreaking loss of Diogo Jota and his sibling André Silva.
Arne Slot had granted the club's supporters permission to find joy once more, to keep mourning, to express anger at unfavorable decisions. There exists no proper method for grieving.
If there existed an appropriate manner to honor Jota, a distinctive personality cherished by virtually everyone he encountered, Liverpool and Preston made their finest effort to accomplish this during the weekend.
The series of commemorations commenced with an energetic performance of Liverpool's emotionally resonant club song, 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Throughout the singing, Preston skipper Ben Whiteman walked out solo to lay a wreath before the section filled with Liverpool supporters. Standing with his hands positioned behind his back, Whiteman lowered his head before the emotional fans adorned with jerseys, scarves and banners displaying Jota's name and image.
A perfectly observed moment of silence offered a touching contrast to the emotional display.
With the match remaining scoreless after 20 minutes, Deepdale burst into collective song to perform Jota's cherished anthem. "He's a lad from Portugal," the lyrics state. "Better than Figo don't you know. Oh, his name is Diogo!"
Conor Bradley tentatively broke the deadlock shortly past the half-hour point and appeared uncertain about celebrating. Darwin Núñez showed little hesitation when he extended Liverpool's lead within 10 minutes of the second half's start. The Uruguayan forward replicated Jota's signature celebration, clapping his extended arms together before falling to the ground to imitate his former colleague's gaming tribute that has been copied by various other players.
Following his goal for Liverpool's third strike, Cody Gakpo repeated the crocodile gesture and also raised two fingers in tribute to Jota's No. 20 jersey—which no future Liverpool player will ever don again.
At the conclusion of a moving afternoon, Slot guided his squad toward their supporters. They encountered a chorus of voices unanimously celebrating the departed Jota which persisted well beyond the match's end.