The start of a new football season is typically marked by anticipation and hope. Yet, for Liverpool Football Club, their 2025-26 preseason campaign began with a profound sense of loss, as players, staff, and supporters gathered to pay tribute to former player Diogo Jota and his brother, who tragically passed away on July 3rd in a car accident in Spain.
The first preseason fixture against Preston North End became a focal point for communal mourning. Before kickoff, a palpable silence fell over the ground, a solemn moment of reflection for a life cut short. This was followed by a powerful, unified rendition of the club`s anthem, `You`ll Never Walk Alone` – a song usually sung with defiant optimism, now carrying the heavy weight of shared grief. Across the pitch, Preston`s captain also offered a personal gesture of respect, acknowledging the solidarity within the football community during this difficult time.
The tributes extended beyond the pre-match ceremony, manifesting in both official club decisions and poignant individual actions. Preston North End dedicated their matchday program to Jota`s memory, a tangible record of the respect held for the player by even opposing clubs. Liverpool Football Club announced the retirement of Jota`s number 20 shirt, a rare and significant honor signifying his lasting impact and ensuring his number will forever be associated with him at Anfield.
On the pitch, even amidst the early stages of preseason, the memory of their former teammate was present. Striker Darwin Nunez paid his own personal homage, reportedly using Jota`s signature goal celebration after finding the net – a subtle yet powerful act of remembrance from a teammate, illustrating the bonds forged within the squad.
Addressing the media before the game, new manager Arne Slot articulated the difficult emotional state within the squad. He acknowledged the immense impact of the tragedy on the club, emphasizing that their grief, while significant, was secondary to the profound loss felt by Jota`s parents, wife Rute, children, and other family members. Slot spoke not just of Jota the player, but Jota the person, relaying how conversations with teammates and staff consistently highlighted his positive character and authenticity.
“They all rate him so high and all say how nice of a person he was,” Slot remarked, sharing the sentiments from those who knew him best at the club. “That he was always himself. So they should and will be very proud if they could hear what all his teammates and all the staff members would say about him.”
In a moment that transcended the competitive nature of football, the preseason opener served as a powerful reminder of the bonds formed within the sport and the collective spirit of remembrance that unites even rivals in times of sorrow. Diogo Jota`s memory lives on, both in the club`s official tributes and in the hearts of those who knew him, ensuring that he will, indeed, never walk alone in the history and community of Liverpool Football Club.
