Liverpool Honors Diogo Jota and Andre Silva in Heartfelt Tribute

Tribute Match Against Preston North End

Liverpool Football Club will pay homage to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva during a pre-season friendly match against Preston North End this Sunday. The game is set to commence at 2:40 PM, starting with the iconic anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the away stand.

Commemorative Gestures

Both teams' players will don black armbands, and a minute of silence will be observed to honor the memory of Jota and Silva. Additionally, digital tributes will be showcased on screens around the pitch. Preston North End has also produced a special edition of the matchday program that includes tributes to both individuals.

Tragic Loss

This tribute follows the tragic passing of Jota in a car accident on the A-52 motorway in Zamora, northern Spain. The 28-year-old and his 25-year-old brother lost their lives when a tire on their vehicle burst while they were overtaking.

Support from Teammates

Liverpool players, including Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Darwin Nunez, were present at Jota's funeral in his hometown of Gondomar, Portugal. Other teammates, such as Luis Diaz and Alisson Becker, attended a Requiem Mass held for both Jota and Silva.

Emotional Tributes

Andy Robertson, a midfielder for Liverpool, shared a heartfelt tribute to Jota on social media, describing him as 'a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real.' Robertson had attended Jota's wedding shortly before the accident, where Jota married Rute Cardosa, his childhood sweetheart and the mother of his three children.

Robertson reminisced about their shared moments watching darts and horse racing, humorously referring to Jota as 'Diogo MacJota.' He expressed his desire to cope with the loss together as a team, stating, 'For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy.'

Future Tributes

The club is contemplating long-term tributes, including the possibility of retiring Jota's number 20 shirt. Fans have been visiting Anfield in large numbers to lay flowers, scarves, and other mementos in Jota's memory. A mural dedicated to the striker has also been created near the stadium, featuring heartfelt messages from supporters.

Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, along with his wife Mirjam, visited the memorial on Tuesday, where Slot laid flowers with a touching message: 'Diogo, we had the same dream and we fulfilled it together. Andre and yourself will forever be in our hearts.'