Tributes: Virgil van Dijk took to the pitch at Anfield with young members of Jota’s family, including his two sons AFP via Getty Images Liverpool manager Arne Slot has praised the “special” tributes paid to Diogo Jota during his side’s Premier League match against Wolves.
Saturday marked the first meeting between the late Portuguese forward’s two former clubs, and each team’s fans appeared emotional ahead of kick-off both in the Anfield stands and at the memorial set up near the ground.
A banner with the words “Diogo Jota, forever in our hearts” was hoisted in the Kop while two of Jota’s three children - his sons Dinis and Duarte - were mascots for the game, walking out of the tunnel and onto the pitch with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk alongside other young members of the family as their mother, Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso, watched from the side-lines.
The 28-year-old, who died in a car accident in Spain in July alongside his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva, joined the Reds in 2020 after three seasons with Wolves.
In the 18th minute on Saturday, the visiting fans began singing their tribute to their former player before Anfield rose as one in Jota’s memory when the clock ticked over to 20 minutes, the number of his now-retired Liverpool shirt.
Liverpool fans remember Diogo Jota (Getty Images)In celebrating his opening goal of the game, Ryan Grenberch also paid tribute to his former Liverpool teammate by using Jota’s crocodile celebration.
Speaking after the match, Slot praised the fans of Liverpool and opposition clubs for their “touching tributes” and showing of “the greatest respect every single game, every single moment towards [Jota] and his family”.
“Today again we saw the same,” the Liverpool boss said.
“Another special moment for us but I think also for his wife and for his children. Every single moment [the fans] he done what you would hope they do in memory of him but today again, the away fans showed that it’s not only about our fans but it’s also about fans of other teams.”
Wolves captain Matt Doherty and Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk pose with match officials and mascots, including the children of Diogo Jota (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Discussing each set of fans continuing to honour their former player in the minute corresponding to Jota’s shirt number at their club, Slot continued: “You guys know and I know, for one-and-a-half years now, how special English fans are, and today I think we’ve shown to the outside world, the whole world, that it’s not only the players who make this league special but it’s definitely also the fans.”
On Friday evening, Wolves’ team also visited Anfield to pay tribute to their former player at a memorial for Jota outside the stadium’s Main Stand.
Fans pay tribute to Diogo Jota (Getty Images)After the match, manager Rob Edwards discussed what he described as a “really poignant moment”.
“It was really emotional for one of two of our staff and players as well that knew [Jota] really well. I think it was right and really good that we did that last night, paid our respects.
He added: “And obviously, with his family here today, again it would he been really emotional but for two clubs that he represented so well and ge so much to. Both clubs, Liverpool are a very classy club as well and they always respect their players, and it was a real nice moment.”
Jota scored 44 goals in 131 appearances for Wolves after joining the club on an initial season-long loan deal from Atletico Madrid in 2017.
After moving to Anfield in 2020, he scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool and won the FA Cup and EFL Cup in 2022 before hoisting the Premier League title with the Merseyside club last season.
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