The opening game of the new Premier League season was overshadowed on Friday evening, as an emotional Anfield paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.
Portuguese footballer Jota (28) and his brother Silva (25) were killed in a car crash in Spain on July 3rd.
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The crash occurred just a matter of days after Jota’s wedding to Rute Cardoso, and just over a month after he had lifted the Premier League trophy with his Liverpool teammates. The football world has been in mourning in the weeks since Jota and Silva’s tragic deaths.
Liverpool kicked off the new season on Friday as they hosted Bournemouth at Anfield, and the night was inevitably fraught with emotion as the team and fans came together for the first time since Jota’s passing.
As the teams took to the pitch, the traditional playing of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ carried more weight than ever.
The rendition of the song given by the Anfield faithful was one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful the stadium has ever delivered.
The most amazing You’ll Never Walk Alone rendition at Anfield by the Liverpool fans for Diogo Jota and his brother #LIVBOU #PremierLeague
— Cricketism (@MidnightMusinng) August 15, 2025
An impeccably observed minute’s silence followed, as the fans raised placards to spell out the initials of Silva and Jota.
The minute’s silence inside Anfield for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva was incredibly poignant.pic.twitter.com/O1lsUYSGAI
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) August 15, 2025
A banner was also raised in the Kop, with a message to Jota’s widow Cardoso and his family – “Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda – Anfield will always be your home. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Liverpool have permanently retired Jota’s number 20 jersey across age grades and, in the 20th minute, both sets of fans rose in appreciation of the late striker.
Anfield rises in applause at the 20 minute mark as Liverpool and Bournemouth fans pay tribute to Diogo Jota ❤️ pic.twitter.com/d26v8OrWAn
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2025
Amid all of this unimaginable emotion, the Liverpool players were tasked with getting their Premier League title defence off to a winning start.
Early in the second half, Liverpool were cruising at 2-0, before two quick-fire goals from Antoine Semenyo turned the game on its head.
With just three minutes to play, Federico Chiesa volleyed home the winner, before last season’s star man Mo Salah tucked away a fourth in stoppage time.
Just as new signing Hugo Ekitike had done in the first half, Salah celebrated his goal by mimicking Jota’s clapping celebration, and it was evident a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
The most powerful moment of the evening came after the final whistle, as a visibly emotional Salah joined the Kop in a rendition of their Diogo Jota chant.
Mo Salah shares powerful moment with Kop in memory of Diogo Jota
After full time, Mo Salah remained on the Anfield pitch after his Liverpool teammates had returned to the dressing room, and stood in front of the Kop.
It’s clear that Salah has been deeply affected by the passing of Diogo Jota, and he approached Liverpool’s fans to applaud on a difficult night for everyone associated with the club.
Tears came to Salah’s eyes as the Kop belted out a poignant rendition of their chant dedicated to the late Jota.
Mohamed Salah was the last player to leave the pitch, joining in with a tearful rendition of Diogo Jota’s chant in front of the Kop ❤️ pic.twitter.com/c5Vj4Rfr8C
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 15, 2025
It was a remarkably powerful public show of grief, and the significance of the moment clearly weighed heavily on Salah’s shoulders.
Footage from the stands showed the poignancy of the moment.
A tearful Mo Salah the last player to leave the field as he stands in front of the Kop while the Jota song echoes around Anfield. pic.twitter.com/LFg23udPuf
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) August 15, 2025
For the Premier League’s standout player to so publicly display their grief over the death of a teammate was among the most moving in the competition’s history.
After Jota’s passing, Salah had said on social media:
I am truly lost for words. Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break.
Team mates come and go but not like this. It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we go back.
My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children. Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get.
They will never be forgotten.
Friday night proved that the last line will forever ring true.
Diogo Jota and Andre Silva will never be forgotten by the people of Liverpool and the football world.