FANS paid touching tributes to Diogo Jota as they watched Liverpool’s opening game of the season tonight.
The Reds kicked off their Premier League title defence against Bournemouth at Anfield at 8pm this evening.
Fans applauded as a mosaic honouring the Portuguese attacker and his brother Andre was passed across The Kop and the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand before kick off.
A moment of silence was also held before the game in honour of the beloved player and his brother.
The club and its millions of fans around the world have been in mourning since Diogo and Andre both died in a car crash in Spain on July 3 as they drove to catch a ferry back to England for the start of Liverpool’s pre-season.
At the 20 minute mark, the crowds were up on their feet and gave Jota a huge ovation.
Scarfs and shirts bearing the player’s name were held aloft as Anfield serenaded a spine tingling version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.
Prior to the tributes manager Arne Slot wrote: “We know that this will be a very emotional occasion, given it is the first league game we have played since we lost Diogo and Andre.
“As I have said previously, the tributes that have been paid throughout the football world, and especially within the LFC community, have been truly special, and I know that tonight we will come together to honour them once more.
“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.”
Club captain Virgil van Dijk added in his notes: “Tonight, of course, will be the first Premier League game we have played since we lost Diogo and Andre.
“It will be a very emotional occasion for everybody associated with the club, and especially for Diogo’s wife, Rute, their children and his family, who will be in attendance this evening.
“They remain, of course, the most important people in all of this, and it is important that we as a club – players, staff, supporters – are there for them always, and that they know that they will always be loved and welcomed here at Anfield.
“I know that will be the case. Liverpool is a family, and tonight we will show that once more.”
Meanwhile Liverpool team-mate Alexis Mac Allister paid and emotional tribute in his recent article for the Players’ Tribune.
He said: “Obviously, and with great emotion, I want to dedicate this paragraph to Diogo. I still can’t understand how he left us so early. I always had a good relationship with him, but this past year even more so.
“He was always a very down-to-earth, family-oriented person, and never tried to pretend to be something he wasn’t.
“One day he would come and give you the hug of a lifetime, and the next day he wouldn’t even say hello, hahaha.
“We loved to ‘take the p**s,’ and we always found a way, whether it was our Messi vs Cristiano arguments, or just playing cards. It was part of the game. I will always choose to remember him with a smile.
“And I know that with that smile, he’ll be supporting us from above. If you don’t believe that, then just look at the minute [Jeremie] Frimpong scored in the Community Shield. The 20th. These are signs.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to send my warmest regards to his family, whom we must never forget, as they are the ones who are suffering the most from the tragic passing of him and his brother Andre. My respect and love to all of them.”
Liverpool has retired his No 20 shirt and plan to create a grassroots programme in his name.
The release of Liverpool’s new Adidas home and away kits came with Jota’s ‘Diogo J. 20’ shirts available and it was the second-best seller, with all profits of official sales going to the LFC Foundation.
A moment’s silence will be observed at all top-flight matches this weekend in memory of Diogo and his brother.
Chelsea have also been revealed to be donating part of their £11.4million team bonus for winning the Club World Cup to Cardoso and Jota’s family.
His previous club, Wolves, will also hold a tribute to the forward at Molineux ahead of their season opener with Manchester City on Saturday.
The club have released a commemorative 100-page programme for the match, dedicated to Jota and his brother.
The programme will celebrate his journey with the club and give fans some never-before-seen behind-the-scenes media with the icon, as well as including tributes from the players and staff who were closest to him.
The universal tributes show that wherever Jota’s career has taken him, he left a beloved figure.
Jota featured won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool and also won the Championship with his previous club Wolves.
He also won international honours with Portugal as he lifted the Nations League titles twice.
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