Diogo Jota and Andre Silva will be honored with several tributes during Liverpool’s match against Preston North End. The Reds are set to play at Deepdale Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a pre-season friendly, which will be their first match since the tragic road traffic accident in Spain that resulted in the loss of the two brothers.
A significant and profoundly emotional outpouring of support for the Jota family has already been witnessed from various sectors of society.
The club has announced their intention to “immortalise number 20” in some manner, while Anfield has become a poignant tribute site – adorned with scarves, balloons, stuffed animals, and heartfelt messages of love and grief, with all four corners of the stadium now covered in memories.
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were among the initial individuals to share tributes online following the devastating news, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and numerous clubs from the football community also extending their condolences.
As the 2025/26 season draws near – with the Reds concentrating on defending the Premier League title they secured last season – the remembrance of Jota and his brother is anticipated to continue for an extended period.
Prior to the 3pm BST kick-off, Liverpool’s official club anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, will be performed, and the home club will place a wreath alongside the away supporters in the Bill Shankly Kop stand. A minute’s silence will be observed in remembrance of Diogo and Andre, with digital tributes displayed on the large screen and throughout the pitchside LED boards.
Both teams will don black armbands, and Preston has also created a special 18-page edition of the matchday programme, which includes written tributes to the siblings. Jota, 28, had recently wed his long-term partner Rute Cardoso on June 22, sharing photos of their wedding on social media just two weeks prior. The couple had three children together, with their firstborn arriving in 2021 and their third expected in November.
His funeral was held at the same location and was attended by both current and former Liverpool and Portugal teammates.
Sunday’s match will be broadcast live in the UK on ITV, shown on LFCTV, and streamed worldwide via All Red Video, with coverage commencing at 2:15pm.
The tributes are similar to those anticipated when Newcastle United hosts Arne Slot’s team in the Premier League on August 25, as the Magpies have announced they will play Liverpool’s anthem before kick-off, in recognition of the respect the Merseyside club demonstrated during their mourning of Cheick Tiote in 2017.