There were incredibly moving scenes at Anfield on Friday night as a tribute was paid to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva after their tragic deaths last month.
Jota and his brother lost their lives in a car accident in northwestern Spain in July.
The Liverpool and Portugal star had only been married a few days earlier and left behind his wife and three young children.
Liverpool’s meeting with Bournemouth was their first competitive game at Anfield since the tragedy and the pre-match rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone was especially emotional, as banners celebrating Jota were waved.
There was then an immaculately observed minute’s silence, while a mosaic was produced hailing the brothers.
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Players at Anfield on Friday night are wearing black armbands after the tragedy and the Liverpool stars are sporting a ‘Forever 20’ emblem on their shirts.
Sky Sports also broadcast a moving tribute to the Portugal international before the match, featuring many of his former teammates for club and country.
Reds boss Arne Slot wrote in his programme notes for Friday’s game that he expected Jota’s family to be in attendance, saying: ‘We know that this will be a very emotional occasion, given it is the first league game we have played since we lost Diogo and Andre.
‘As I have said previously, the tributes that have been paid throughout the football world, and especially within the LFC community, have been truly special, and I know that tonight we will come together to honour them once more.
‘I believe that Diogo’s wife, his children and his family will be in attendance and it is important that, as a club, we show that they will always have our love and support as they deal with this most tragic of situations. We are there for them always.’
Slot told Sky Sports before kick-off of how ready his squad have become after the tragic news last month: ‘I think far better than I expected five or six weeks ago.
‘At that moment of time you feel as though it will never be possible to play again or get them going again, but they’ve conducted themselves so, so, so well in that period of time from when we first heard the news.
‘On both sides they were great, as a human being but they also understood that they have to be professional football player again, which is what they started doing.’
There have been a number of tributes to Jota since he lost his life, including Liverpool retiring his number 20 shirt.
A statement from the club last month read: ‘After consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the club can announce the squad number will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels, including LFC Women and Academy.
‘The move is recognition of not only the immeasurable contribution our lad from Portugal made to the Reds’ on-pitch successes over the last five years, but also the profound personal impact he had on his teammates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them.’
Liverpool CEO Michael Edwards added: ‘As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way.
‘It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.
‘I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person.
‘By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten.
‘Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the number 20.
‘As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20.’