Liverpool Pay Tribute to Diogo Jota in Emotional 3‑1 Friendly Win at Preston
Preston, Sunday, July 13, 2025 — Liverpool returned to action with a 3‑1 pre‑season victory over Championship side Preston North End at Deepdale that served as a powerful tribute the the beloved forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who both passed away in a tragic car crash in Spain on July 3.
Tributes Before Kickoff
Before play began, stadium lights carried a banner declaring “Rest in Peace Diogo Jota & André Silva. You’ll Never Walk Alone,” as Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath for the fallen brothers.
A live performance of You’ll Never Walk Alone by singer Claudia Rose Maguire echoed across the stands, followed by a minute’s silence and both teams wearing black armbands in memory of the deceased Emotional Moment in the 20th Minute. At precisely the 20th minute, matching Jota’s shirt number, the crowd erupted into chants of Oh, his name is Diogo, linking nearly ten minutes of sustained singing and applause as a mark of respect.
Match Action
Amid the emotional backdrop, Liverpool rose to the occasion with a strong performance on the pitch. In the first half, Conor Bradley opened the scoring after Federico Chiesa’s effort was deflected into his path. After the break, Darwin Núñez doubled the lead with a composed finish and marked the milestone with Jota’s trademark “gamer” celebration—sitting on the turf while miming video game controls in tribute to his fallen teammate’s love of gaming. Cody Gakpo later sealed Liverpool’s third goal, mirroring Núñez’s tribute with an identical celebration in honour of Jota, but Liverpool held on for a 3‑1 win.
Manager’s Reflections and Squad Notes
Manager Arne Slot, in his first public comments since the tragedy, encouraged players to stay true to themselves emotionally: “If we want to laugh, we laugh; if we want to cry, we cry…” he said, urging authenticity and acknowledgment of grief during this healing process . The match also saw debuts for summer signings including goalkeepers Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman, plus defenders Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong .
Legacy and What Lies Ahead
Liverpool announced they will retire Jota’s number 20 jersey at all levels of the club in tribute to his legacy—a symbolic gesture reflecting the impact he had both on and off the pitch . The stadium farewell concluded with players lining up before the away end, where fans chanted his name for seven minutes—a raw moment of unity and grief shared across players, staff, and supporters alike .
Their next pre‑season fixture is scheduled against AC Milan in Hong Kong on July 26, a match that is expected to carry further emotional weight as Liverpool continue to honor Jota’s memory .
Liverpool’s 3–1 win over Preston was more than a friendly—it was a moving tribute to a beloved teammate whose presence will resonate long after he wore the No. 20 shirt.