Cliff Notes
- Liverpool players and fans paid heartfelt tributes to Diogo Jota before their first match since his tragic death in a car crash, holding banners and observing a moment of silence.
- The club permanently retired Jota’s number 20 shirt, and players wore black armbands as a sign of respect; both teams participated in commemorative gestures during the match.
- Celebrations of Jota’s goals included Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo imitating his signature “crocodile celebration,” showcasing the emotional impact of Jota’s legacy on the team.
Liverpool strikers copy Jota’s ‘crocodile celebration’ after scoring in first game since his death | UK News
Liverpool players and fans have paid tribute to Dioga Jota at the Reds’ first game since the Portuguese forward died in a car crash with his brother.
The Merseyside club’s supporters held Jota banners in the stands at the Deepdale Stadium during their side’s pre-season friendly away match against Preston.
There was a rendition of the club’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” which was performed by Claudia Rose Maguire – wife of former Preston player Sean Maguire – shortly before the match kicked off at 3pm.
Preston captain Ben Whiteman also laid a wreath in front of the visiting supporters before today’s game.
Fans of both clubs broke into applause and a rendition of a song about Jota.
Around 13 minutes later Liverpool player Conor Bradley put his side 1 – 0 up before celebrating in a subdued manner with his teammates.
Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez scored in the 53rd minute to make it 2 – 0 and marked the goal by doing Jota’s trademark “crocodile celebration” where he would do a snapping motion with his arms.
Nunez also sat on the grass and pretended to play a computer game – another of Jota’s celebrations.
Preston pulled one back in the 83rd minute before Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo made it 3 – 1 five minutes later.
Gakpo also did Jota’s famous crocodile celebration after scoring the goal.
Newly-married Jota, 28, died alongside his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva, a footballer who played in Portugal’s second division with Penafiel, when his Lamborghini crashed in Zamora in northern Spain on 3 July.
Liverpool players and supporters were seen in deep reflection during a one-minute silence in memory of the brothers moments before today’s game kicked off.
Both teams’ players wore black armbands during the match.
Children have been among those paying tribute in the stands with one boy holding a banner reading: “Forever missed, forever loved, forever remembered, forever our number 20.”
Liverpool supporters also sung the first of many renditions of a song about Jota 20 minutes before kick-off.
The tributes come after Liverpool retired the number 20 shirt Jota wore at all levels of the club, including the men’s and women’s first teams and academy squads, in his memory.
