The full-time scenes after the opening fixture of English Premier League between Liverpool and Bournemouth were emotional as the Anfield crowd sang the name of their late forward Diogo Jota while their talisman Mohamed Salah stood unable to control his tears.
Before the start of the match, the reigning champions honoured the Portugal forward with a minute’s silence and a rendition of club’s famous chant, “You’ll never walk alone”.
It was expected to be an emotional start for Liverpool as they lost Jota in a car crash last month along side his brother Andre Silva.
The players stood arm-in-arm with heads bowed, while fans wiped away tears and the words “Rest in peace Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, you’ll never walk alone,” were displayed around the pitch.
On the Kenny Daglish stand, the fans stood with placards forming AS30 while the Kop formed DJ20. With Jota’s widow, Rute, and family in attendance, Liverpool fans also unveiled banners on the Kop. As one said,’Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda – Anfield will always be your home. You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot reflected on how the squad had coped following the death of their teammate.”The squad is far better than I expected five or six weeks ago,” the Dutchman told Sky Sports before kick-off. “At the moment in time you feel, will it ever be possible to play again or will it ever be possible to get them going again?
“But as I said many times they have conducted themselves so, so well in that period of time, when we first heard the news (about Jota’s death) and afterwards.
The Liverpool players will wear a “Forever 20” emblem on their shirts this season, while the club has retired Jota’s No. 20 shirt across all levels of the club, including the women’s team and academy, after consultation with Jota’s family
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After 20 minutes and 20 seconds of Friday’s game, the Anfield crowd stood and cheered and sang their Jota song, set to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising”.
Players pay tribute
It was a cracking opening game to the Premier League season as Liverpool won 4-2 fending off a fightback from Bournemouth.
Debutant Hugo Ekitike opened the scoring in the 37th minute and gestured 20 with his hands to pay tribute to Jota. Cody Gakpo repeated the same when he scored the second goal in the 49th minute.
Bournemouth mounted a comeback as Antoine Semenyo scored in 64th and 76th minute to make it 2-2.
Slot immediately brought on Federico Chiesa in 82nd minute and the Italian scored in the 88th minute to make it 3-2.
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In the extra time, the ever-present Salah scored the fourth goal of the night and celebrated with shark celebration in memory of his mate, putting a long and emotional night to deserving end.
