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'It was his day': Liverpool players dedicate opening day win to Diogo Jota
Nicholas Quinlan • August 16th, 2025 12:21 pm
Liverpool fans have given a touching tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in their opening match of the Premier League season.
It was only last month when both brothers tragically passed away in a car accident in Spain, with Jota having helped Liverpool win its 20th league title and recently married his childhood sweetheart 11 days before his passing.
The effects of his death have been profound on the players and fans, with club ownership deciding to retire his No. 20 jersey across all club teams to pay tribute to the Portuguese forward.
In their first competitive game for the new season, Liverpool fans had paid their respects during the FA Community Shield match against Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium with a minute of silence.
However, there was a small section of Palace fans who reportedly disrupted the silence, which prompted booing.
But Liverpool would get their chance to properly honour one of their own as they opened the 25/26 Premier League season against Bournemouth at their famous home ground of Anfield.
In the pre-match, Reds fans would sing a spine-tingling rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone. This was then followed by fans observing a minute's silence whilst displaying a mosaic tribute with both Jota and Silva’s initials and numbers being used.
Liverpool would get out to a great start to the match with new signing Hugo Ekitike scoring the first goal of the season. They would then double their lead before half-time with Dutch striker Cody Gapko splitting the Cherries' defence to slot the ball in the bottom right corner.
But in the second half, Bournemouth would get themselves back in with Antoine Semenyo scoring a brace to tie the match with 14 minutes left.
But on an occasion like this, it was hard to see Liverpool not winning. And on the 88th minute mark, midfielder Federico Chiesa would volley from short range to give the Reds the lead once more.
Following that, Liverpool’s Egyptian king Mohammed Salah, put the result beyond doubt in added time to see them win 4-2.
And after that goal, he would pull out a shark chomp celebration, which Jota has used before.
Speaking with BBC Sport after the match, Chiesa admitted that Diogo and his family were the only things he was able to think about after scoring in the 88th minute to give Liverpool the lead.
“(The goal) was a great moment for me, but my thoughts go to Diogo,” the Italian said.
“I think for what we have seen, it was his day.
"The feeling the fans gave me, chanting his song all the way through the match, it was very emotional, very emotional for me.
“I have to say that after the goal, my thoughts went to his family, his brother Andre. That's the only thing I could say."
Liverpool will not be the only club to pay tribute to the Portuguese brothers ahead of the Premier League kicking off this weekend.
There will also be a minute of silence before the remaining nine Premier League matches this weekend to pay respects with players wearing black armbands.
It was reported by The Athletic on Thursday, that Chelsea players and officials have agreed to give a portion of the players’ prize money from their Club World Cup victory to the families of both Jota and Silva.
Liverpool’s next match is against Newcastle United at St. James Park on August 26, with kick-off at 7am NZST.
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