Anfield Mourns: Emotional Tribute to Jota and Silva in Liverpool’s First Pre-Season Match

Liverpool’s pre-season opener at Preston North End became a deeply moving memorial as the club, its players, and thousands of supporters paid heartfelt tributes to Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, following their tragic deaths in a car crash on July 3 in Zamora, Spain.

The atmosphere was solemn yet united, with fans singing Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love followed by a powerful rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone. During the latter, Preston captain Ben Whiteman, visibly emotional, laid a wreath before the travelling Kop—a gesture of respect that resonated beyond rivalry.

The match, which Liverpool won 3-1, was punctuated with tributes. In the 20th minute, the crowd erupted into song in homage to Jota, who wore number 20 for the Reds. Flags bearing his name filled the away end, while his teammates honored him in play. Conor Bradley, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo all scored—and each celebrated with gestures symbolizing Jota’s legacy. Nunez even mimicked two of Jota’s signature celebrations, while Gakpo raised his fingers to represent number 20.

The club announced the retirement of Jota’s shirt number—20—across all teams at exactly 20:20 BST, a decision echoing the sentiment that he will forever remain a part of Liverpool’s soul.

Jota’s impact on the pitch was immense. He netted 65 goals in 182 appearances, contributing to Liverpool’s domestic double in 2022 and the Premier League triumph in 2024. Internationally, he earned 49 caps for Portugal and scored 14 goals, his final goal coming in the UEFA Nations League final against Spain just weeks before his death.

The tragedy unfolded when the brothers’ Lamborghini suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking, causing the fatal crash. They were en route to Santander, where Jota was preparing to fly back for pre-season training.

At Deepdale, fans young and old grappled with grief. “It’s been really hard explaining it to my children,” said lifelong supporter Mathew, whose son Rafael added, “We’re heartbroken, but we stand together—this is what Liverpool is about.”

Indeed, You’ll Never Walk Alone carried new weight, echoing through the stands with unmatched emotion. In a fixture that was insignificant in competition, the spirit and solidarity shown rendered it unforgettable.

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