LIVERPOOL: Diogo Jota was hailed “a champion” on Sunday by Liverpool manager Arne Slot as the Reds returned to the field for the first time since the Portuguese’s death by beating Preston 3-1 in a pre-season friendly.
Father of three Jota died alongside his brother Andre Silva on July 3, 11 days after marrying his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, after their car came off the road and burst into flames in northern Spain.
A rendition of Liverpool’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was played before kick-off at Deepdale and Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in front of the away supporters.
A minute’s silence was then observed and both teams wore black armbands.
“I think what I take comfort in is that in the last month of his life he was a champion in everything,” Slot said in an interview ahead of the match.
“A champion for his family, which is the main and most important thing, because he got married.
“A champion for his country because he won the Nations League with a country that he cared about so much, because he also wore the flag when we had celebrations.
“And of course a champion for us by winning the Premier League.”
Mohamed Salah was among the Liverpool starting lineup and captain for the day as Virgil van Dijk was left out of the playing squad but was still in attendance.
Three of the players who traveled to Gondomar, just outside Porto, for Jota’s funeral last weekend, Conor Bradley, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo scored the goals in Liverpool’s first steps back toward normality.
Multiple renditions of Jota’s song, proclaiming him to be better than Portugal legend Figo, were belted out by the Liverpool support before a ball was even kicked.
In the crowd, flags emblazoned with “forever our No. 20” paid tribute to the man who died aged just 28.
Liverpool announced on Friday that the club will retire Jota’s No. 20 in his memory.
“It’s just hit the city hard,” said Liverpool fan and security officer Thomas McAllister, 48.
“Once a Liverpool player you become part of the family and we take you to our hearts. It’s like someone in the family has died.”
Earlier this week, Slot and his wife joined several players in attending the tributes that have appeared to Jota and his brother outside Anfield.
“We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go,” added Slot.
Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez made their Liverpool debuts as Slot named two entirely different sides for each half.
Liverpool had spent big in the transfer market prior to Jota’s passing, breaking the club’s record fee for Florian Wirtz as well as recruiting Frimpong and Kerkez in a bid to retain the Premier League title.
“It must be devastating for his family, his teammates but I think it will really unite and galvanize them to try and win the league for him,” said another supporter Diggy Anderson, 60.
