Cliff Notes – Liverpool pay respects to Diogo Jota in poignant match – in pictures
- Liverpool and Preston North End held a preseason friendly to honour Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who tragically died in a car crash on July 3.
- Both teams wore black armbands and observed a minute’s silence, with emotional tributes including wreath-laying and renditions of club anthems.
- Liverpool players celebrated goals with gestures honouring Jota, including retiring his No. 20 shirt and Cody Gakpo’s tribute after scoring.
Liverpool pay respects to Diogo Jota in poignant match – in pictures
ESPN
Jul 13, 2025, 06:00 PMEmailPrint
Tributes for Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva dominated proceedings on Sunday as Liverpool and Preston North End players, staff and supporters paid their respects.
The preseason friendly — which Liverpool won 3-1 — was the club’s first game since Jota his brother André Silva died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, on July 3.
The afternoon began with emotional renditions of both side’s club anthems — Preston’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and Liverpool’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” before Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in front of the travelling Liverpool fans.
Both sets of players wore black armbands during an emotional afternoon at Deepdale.
Preston North End’s matchday programme for the friendly contained tributes to Diogo Jota and André Silva. Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty ImagesBoth sets of players and supporters perfectly observed a minute’s silence for Diogo Jota and André Silva before play began at Deepdale. Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty ImagesPreston North End’s captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in Diogo Jota’s memory in front of the travelling Liverpool supporters. Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty ImagesThe away end at Deepdale was full of touching tributes to Diogo Jota. Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty ImagesLiverpool’s star forward and captain on Sunday, Mohamed Salah, led the sides out. Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty ImagesDarwin Núñez paid tribute to Diogo Jota by doing his video game celebration after scoring Liverpool’s second of the afternoon. Jota had been ranked No. 1 in the world on PlayStation’s FIFA Ultimate Team in 2021. Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty ImagesLiverpool fans at Deepdale continued to pay tribute to one of their heroes throughout the match. Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesCody Gakpo put Liverpool 3-1 up late in the game, his “crocodile” snap celebration was synonymous with Diogo Jota’s 65 goals in red. Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesGakpo held up the No. 20 after his goal, Diogo Jota’s Liverpool shirt number. The club had announced this week they will retire the No. 20 across all levels of the men and women’s sides in Jota’s honour. Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesLiverpool players and staff all stayed on the pitch after the full-time whistle to applaud the travelling fans as they sang Diogo Jota’s song. Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images