Diogo Jota’s two sons have emotionally returned to Anfield as mascots for Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Wolves.
Dinis and Duarte, two of Jota and Rute Cardoso’s three children, took to the pitch in Merseyside before the 3pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon.
The fixture marks the first meeting between Liverpool and Wolves – the late Portugal international’s former clubs – since Jota, 28, and his brother, André Silva, 25, died in a fatal car crash in Spain earlier this year.
Jota was signed for the Reds in 2020 by Jurgen Klopp who, writing in The Observer on Saturday, remembered his ‘humble and authentic’ former player in a touching tribute.
‘Why was he so loved? For me, it’s simple,’ Klopp wrote. ‘Because in Diogo, people saw the very best of themselves. Or maybe the best of what we wanted to be. He was humble and authentic. He didn’t pretend to be anything other than what he was.
‘And in the tributes that came in, in those terrible hours and days after the accident, the words were always the same: he was fun, he was normal, he was genuine. Diogo was simply Diogo. Unashamedly.
‘Although I remember the footballer with huge pride, it is the person I remember most. But the beautiful thing is: both versions of him shared the same qualities.’
Diogo Jota’s sons – Dinis and Duarte – led Liverpool out at Anfield alongside captain Virgil van Dijk
Jota’s sons wore Liverpool kits bearing their father’s shirt number
Jota’s widow, Rute, watched on from the stands on an emotional afternoon at Anfield
Jota was travelling back from north-western Span to begin pre-season training with Liverpool when the tragedy occurred, sparking an outpouring of grief throughout the footballing world.
In his pre-match programme notes ahead of the Reds’ final home fixture of the year, Arne Slot said he hoped the affection shown for Jota could help bring his family some solace.
‘Reflecting on everything that has happened over the last 12 months ignites a rollercoaster of emotions but it is normal at this time of year to look back to everything that has happened,’ the Liverpool boss said.
‘Doing so leads me to think especially of the family of Diogo Jota on what will be their first Christmas without him.
‘It is not my place to tell them where they should look for comfort – if that is even possible – but I can only hope that the feeling of love and affection that Diogo still generates brings them some solace.’
Wolves boss Rob Edwards and his players visited the former Liverpool striker’s mural outside Anfield on Boxing Day to pay tribute.
Jota initially joined the Molineux side on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2017, before making the switch permanent the following year after helping them to Premier League promotion.
After impressing during a further two seasons in the West Midlands, where he scored 44 goals in 131 appearances, Jota signed for the Reds and vowed to be a team player in his first-ever interview with the club.
‘He lived those words every day,’ Klopp continued in his tribute in The Observer. ‘Ability plus attitude. That is why he had such a big impact in Liverpool.
‘He was the supporters’ representative on the pitch. As demonstrated by his reaction to slotting the winning penalty against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup… a competition we went on to win.
‘He was screaming at the away section of Anfield and I wondered why. Later I was told it was because he took exception to chants from some of Leicester’s supporters that night about poverty in Liverpool. So Diogo.’
Jota went on to win his first Premier League title at Liverpool in Slot’s first season earlier this year. He also won the FA Cup and League Cup with the Reds in 2022.
It was revealed earlier this season that Liverpool’s owners, FSG, are committed to looking after Jota’s widow Rute and their three children, and will honour the entirety of his contract, which is reported to be worth in the region of £140,000 per week. Jota had two years remaining on his deal.
There were tributes in the stands from Liverpool supporters
Wolves fans pay their respects ahead of the game by laying a wreath
Liverpool also retired Jota’s No.20 shirt across all teams in the summer, while supporters have continued to honour their former hero by singing his song in the 20th minute at every home game this season.
Jota and Rute were with their three young children and parents on the pitch at Anfield when Liverpol celebrated their 20th league title success at the end of last season.
The family had attended Liverpool’s opening match against Bournemouth and Wolves’ first game of the season against Manchester City, where supporters showed their affection for the striker.
Wolves will host the return fixture on March 4.
