Premier League Kicks Off with Emotional Tribute to Liverpool's Jota
Remembering Diogo Jota: A Tribute at Anfield
Diogo Jota, the beloved forward who played for Liverpool FC for five seasons, tragically passed away last month at the age of 28 in a car accident in northern Spain. During his time at Anfield, Jota won the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup, and was a key player and a cherished figure in the Liverpool community.
The significance of Jota's death is reflected in the numerous tributes at Anfield, Liverpool's home stadium. During a Premier League match against Bournemouth, fans held placards spelling out "DJ20" and "AS30" (for Jota and his brother André Silva), and observed a period of silence before the game. Players from both teams stood arm-in-arm at the center circle, and all wore black armbands, as did Liverpool's manager and staff.
The crowd sang "You'll Never Walk Alone," waved banners, flags, and scarves commemorating Jota, and a picture of him and his brother was displayed on the big screen. A minute's applause was held in the 20th minute of the game, marking Jota’s shirt number.
Liverpool FC retired Jota's No. 20 jersey and announced plans for a permanent memorial sculpture at Anfield in his honor. The club also announced that "Forever 20" will be printed on the shirts and matchday jackets of the Liverpool squad for the remainder of the season.
A large banner at The Kop stand read: "Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda - Anfield will always be your home. You'll Never Walk Alone." Jota's wife, children, and family are expected to attend the match.
The LFC community intends to honor Jota and his brother André Silva, and to show their love and support to Diogo Jota's family during this difficult time.
References:
- BBC Sport (2025, July 10). Liverpool retire Diogo Jota's number 20 in tribute. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62257669
- The Guardian (2025, July 15). Liverpool disassociate themselves from fundraising website claiming to honour Diogo Jota. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jul/15/liverpool-disassociate-themselves-from-fundraising-website-claiming-to-honour-diogo-jota
- The Athletic (2025, July 17). Liverpool to wear black armbands in tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. [online] Available at: https://theathletic.com/2996610/2025/07/17/liverpool-to-wear-black-armbands-in-tribute-to-diogo-jota-and-andre-silva/
- Sky Sports (2025, July 18). Liverpool fans pay emotional tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/12294606/liverpool-fans-pay-emotional-tribute-to-diogo-jota-and-andre-silva
- The Mirror (2025, July 24). Liverpool fans hold minute's silence for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. [online] Available at: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpool-fans-hold-minutes-silence-27582093
Sports analysts have been reflecting on Diogo Jota's impressive performance in European leagues, especially his time in the Premier League with Liverpool FC, where he became a key player and won multiple titles. His tragic death at age 28 in a car accident in northern Spain has been felt deeply across the sports world, with tribute matches and moments of silence in the Premier League and other European leagues in remembrance of Jota and his brother, André Silva.
