Liverpool and Preston pay tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva ahead of friendly clash
Liverpool and Preston pay tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva at an emotional ceremony ahead of Sunday’s pre-season friendly match.
Jota and Andre are also professional football players who died in a car accident in Zamora, Spain on July 3.
The Reds’ first preseason match in Preston was filled with poignant moments to honor the brothers. Liverpool’s national anthem, the heartfelt performance of Elvis Presley’s, can’t help falling in love, an iconic show that will never walk alone.
Captain Preston, Ben Whiteman, clearly overcomes the emotion as the latter reverberates on the ground, placing the wreath in front of the part of Liverpool’s distant supporters.
Fans of away games use flags, scarves and banners to remember the homage of former Wolf and Porto attackers.
They sang Jota’s ode as the players emerged from the tunnel. With that, a minute of silence came.
In the 20th minute (nodding to Jota’s shirt number), the crowd burst into song again in his memory.
An impeccable period of silence to remember Diogo Jota and Andre Silva❤️ pic.twitter.com/noee4t21de
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
The matchday show features a black and white image of Jota holding up the Premier League trophy, surrounded by news that respects him and his brother.
Liverpool announced in a moving gesture that happened to be on the 20:20 BST that Jota’s No. 20 shirt will be permanently retired throughout the club.
Chief coach Arne Slot, speaking on Liverpool TV for the first time since the tragedy, raised his thoughts on how the club responded: “If we want to laugh, we will laugh; if we want to cry, we will cry.
“If they want to train, they can train if they don’t want to train.
“We always bring him into our hearts, our thoughts, wherever we go.”
Jota scored 65 goals in 182 games during Liverpool, playing a key role in doubles in the FA Cup and League Cup 2022, as well as their recent Premier League wins.
He last represented Portugal in the National League final against Spain on June 8, where he helped another trophy. He scored 49 blocks in total for his country.
