I would like to share my thoughts about this here, as I don't follow social media and I feel that I need to speak to the wider world about this shocking news. Diogo Jota was one of my fa     See More ayers at our club. I remember being surprised at how happy I felt when I heard that he was a very late signing for us in 2020. I still cannot explain why the transfer moved me so much. Until this year when Wirtz joined, this was the signing that excited me the most.

That may seem strange, given the transformational signings of the likes of Alisson, Van Dijk and Salah, but the amazing success of those players came out of the blue to me. Perhaps others were more well informed. I just had a feeling about Jota, and I don't know why. Jota was amazing to me in that he was more two-footed than any other Liverpool player I've known.
The only criticism I ever heard about Jota was that he was injury prone, and both ironically and tragically it was his injury against Chelsea that led to his death. If he hadn't suffered a punctured lung he wouldn't have needed the operation that prevented him from flying back to Liverpool, instead driving to catch a ferry, the crash and the death of his younger brother and him.

I have heard many people talking about feeling so sad about the passing of someone that they did not know. I disagree - we did know him, we just never met him. We knew him as a footballer and we knew him as a human. His raising of the shirt of Diaz while Diaz's father was kidnapped. A truly good person does that kind of thing. His charitable work. Such a family man. I could go on. We knew him both as a great player and a good person. The outpouring of grief that we have seen in the last 36 hours does not happen with the death of someone we do not know, but also love.

Next season is going to be difficult. Not just because the league is so tough, but because of this. I heard someone say that if we lose the first 3 or 4 matches, nobody will care, and I agree with that. We all love our football and our club, but this tragedy reminds us that football really is the most important of the least important things. I don't want to hear any nonsense about winning the league for Jota - that is far too much pressure on any person.

Liverpool have had to deal with a lot of difficulty. There are the obvious things: Hillsborough, Heysel, but also recently Paris and the parade. Of all of the comments about this latest challenge that I have read, heard, and seen, I most admire the thoughts of our new leader, Arne Slot. He knew Diogo for only a year, but he summarized my feelings perfectly. I urge anyone who hasn't read them to seek it out.

He joined us in 2020, he helped us to win our 20th title, and he wears the number 20.

4.12.96 to 3.7.25.

His name is Diogo.    See Less

Thank you Redmen TV for doing this video. The best tribute to Diogo that has been put out. Been a Liverpool fan since the 80's. This made video made me think, made me smile, made me l     See More ittle, and very sad that we won't see a player like Diogo play for Liverpool again. Made me think, he played football like he played FIFA weaving in and out and past players. Smashing in the goals. Everyone going back on Tuesday is going to be so difficult. Can't really think about football at the moment, let alone next season. Rest in Peace Diogo and Andre.    See Less

Chris,
I lost me mum and dad in the space of 3 years - mum at the end of November last year. Both deaths definitely happened quite suddenly and both of them were just on the other side o     See More ere meant to be together. The emotional impact is still being felt to this day along with dealing with the aftermath.

The news that Diogo had died brought back those bad memories - had to take a day off work the next day. Sure, I never met Diogo in me life, never will now, but I probably saw Diogo more so than me mum and dad in the last 5 years through the tele and following Liverpool FC. So the emotional connection was very strong. So this was like losing a brother, a loved on, suddenly.

Grief hits people in different ways and it's insulting to assume that all people will respond the same way as others.

The most important thing is that Diogo's mum, wife, and kids are looked after by all those left. You'll Never Walk Alone never felt more important than right now.

RIP DIOGO 20    See Less

I’d just like to thank & highly compliment Ste for his very well worded Sky Sports interview very shortly after news had broke out in UK. From a selfish point of view it was just nice     See More familiar voice amongst all the madness of emotion. YNWA Diogo 🕊️    See Less

Rest in peace diogo from all us scousers evertonian here we will defo pay tribute in the right way great footballer fitting his last goal was against us ❤     See Less

❤❤❤     See Less

There will be hurt for a long time, but there will be glimmers of moments as the days, weeks and months pass where singing his song has less of a pang of pain and we smile. There will be a m     See More e we see the number 20 and remember the Everton goal and not what happened. We are a family and not a football club and as long as we stick together then we process the grief together. YNWA, proud of you all for doing this video    See Less

❤ Diogo an Andre YNWA GBNF ❤     See Less

Forever our number 20! ❤️     See Less

Such a wonderful celebration of Diogo Jota's career. It hit just the right tone of celebration and remembrance of a life and career well-lived by such a young man. Thank you!     See Less