Newcastle United fans are preparing a beautiful tribute for Diogo Jota, who died in a vehicle accident early Thursday morning. The Portuguese forward died at the age of 28, with his 26-year-old brother, Andre Silva.
Following the unfortunate occurrence, the entire football community has expressed their grief. Many Liverpool players and club veterans, including Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, have paid tribute to Jota and his brother.
Liverpool has announced that Jota’s No. 20 shirt will be ‘immortalised’. The Reds are likely to retire Jota’s number, making them the 12th English team to do so.
Newcastle Fans Plan Jota Tribute
Newcastle welcome Liverpool to St James’ Park on August 23
Football pales into insignificance at times like these, but Liverpool manager Arne Slot now confronts the daunting task of preparing his club for the 2025-26 season in the most heartbreaking circumstances. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Dutch coach stated, “For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute.” Diogo wasn’t only our player. He was loved by all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, and a coworker, and he was exceptional in all three positions.”
It is presently unclear whether Liverpool will play their first pre-season friendly against Preston on July 13, as scheduled. The Reds begin the new season with five friendlies before facing Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on August 10.
Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures
July 13
Preston (A
July 26
AC Milan(N)
July 30
Yokohama FC(N)
August 4
Athletics Club (H)
August 10
Crystal Palace(N)
August 15
Bournemouth (H)
August 23
Newcastle United (A).
Slot’s men will next face Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15 in the season’s first Premier League encounter, followed by a trip to Newcastle United eight days later. That encounter at St James’ Park will be Newcastle’s first home game of the season.
Newcastle Supporters Worldwide has invited their other fans to chant Liverpool’s renowned anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone (YNWA) in honour of Jota. They haven’t forgotten Liverpool supporters singing YNWA in tribute to former Newcastle United footballer Christian Atsu, who died at the age of 31 in Turkey in 2023 due to an earthquake.
The post on Facebook reads: “A few years ago, when Atsu died, we played Liverpool at home, and they paid tribute by singing YNWA.”
“We now face Liverpool in our first home game of the season. To honour Jota, we ask that all fans attending the game versus Liverpool sing YNWA at the outset. Share this with everyone you know who will be at the game on August 23rd. “RIP, JOTA, YNWA.”
https://web.facebook.com/NewcastleSupportersWorldwide/posts/pfbid0rqvXDi3zfNCi6oXL3vPUHyvsQUYogGxQiCbHusdL1683GqbZegQpcr2b63kmST5l?ref=embed_post
Liverpool fans responded in the comments, congratulating Newcastle Supporters Worldwide for their planned tribute. “This is an amazing gesture and shows why Newcastle fans are a different class,” one Liverpool fan remarked.
Another commented: “As a Liverpool fan, this is a fantastic touch. Rivalry goes out the window at moments like this.” While a third said, “Respect lads.”
xz
