Liverpool Football Club paid a moving tribute to their former player Diogo Jota and his brother during their first preseason match of the 2025-26 campaign against Preston North End on Sunday. Staff, players, and supporters collectively remembered Diogo, who tragically passed away alongside his brother in a car accident in Spain on July 3rd. This match was the first time his former teammates had played since the accident.
Ahead of the game, Preston captain Ben Whiteman also delivered a personal tribute in front of the travelling fans. `You`ll Never Walk Alone` was sung live before kickoff, followed by a minute of silence in honor of Diogo and his brother.
Preston North End published a special matchday program dedicated to the Portuguese forward`s memory. Liverpool has also announced that they will retire the number 20 shirt in his honor. During the match, Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez paid his respects to Jota by performing his iconic goal celebration. New goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili made his debut for the team, now managed by Arne Slot, in the fixture.
Speaking before the match, the Dutch manager Arne Slot commented on the team`s emotional state following the tragic news.
“First of all, it had a lot of impact on us, but nothing compared to the loss that is felt by his parents, his wife Rute and his children and his other family. The first feeling we all have is of sadness. The second feeling that comes to my mind is pride. I think his parents and Rute can be so proud of the player and the person he was — mainly the person. I`ve spoken to many of his teammates, I`ve spoken to many staff members, and they all rate him so high and all say how nice of a person he was,” Slot stated. “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.”
