London (BN24) – Liverpool opened the new Premier League season on Friday night with an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota, honoring the Portuguese forward just weeks after his tragic death in a car accident in northern Spain.
Jota, 28, was killed alongside his brother, André Silva, when their Lamborghini veered off the road last month. The tragedy struck just 11 days after Jota had married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children, deepening the heartbreak across the Liverpool community and beyond.
Anfield was draped in tributes as fans and players came together before the match against Bournemouth. A vast banner was unfurled on The Kop reading: “Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda – Anfield will always be your home. You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Supporters raised a giant mosaic of the initials and shirt numbers of both Jota and Silva, formed in the colors of the Portuguese flag, as the stadium fell silent for a minute’s reflection.
In a lasting mark of respect, Liverpool announced the retirement of Jota’s No. 20 shirt. A permanent sculpture commemorating him will be installed outside Anfield, while “Forever 20” will appear on players’ shirts and jackets throughout the season.
“The tributes that have been paid throughout the football world, and especially within the LFC community, have been truly special,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot wrote in his matchday programme notes. “I believe that Diogo’s wife, his children and his family will be in attendance, and it is important that, as a club, we show that they will always have our love and support as they deal with this most tragic of situations. We are there for them always.”
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 and quickly became a key figure in Jurgen Klopp’s side before Slot’s arrival this summer. During his five years at Anfield, he lifted the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup, and was beloved for his energy, technical brilliance, and knack for crucial goals.
The emotional evening marked not just the start of a new campaign, but a moment of unity and remembrance for a player whose impact went far beyond the pitch.
