The 2025-26 Premier League season began on the 15th with Liverpool vs Bournemouth. Before the match, a packed supporter who filled the holy land of Anfield commemorated the brothers Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, who died in a traffic accident in July. A huge chant was sung in the 20th minute of the first half, and in Liverpool's opening scene in the 37th minute, goal scorer forward Hugo Ekitique offered a prayer with a hand sign of “20.”
Jota is a striker who joined Liverpool from Wallberhampton in the summer of 2020. In four seasons, he recorded 65 points and 26 assists in 182 official matches in 182 official matches, making a significant contribution to winning four titles, including winning the Premier League last season. He was expected to perform well this season as well, but on the 3rd of this month he passed away along with his younger brother Andre Silva in a traffic accident that occurred on the highway near Zamora in northwestern Spain. The number 20 worn by Jota is designated as a permanent number in all club categories.
In this match, the players entered, and the supporters sang “You'll never walk alone.” The KOP stand, which is home to passionate Liverpool fans, features banners written to the family, “Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda and Anfield, and you'll never walk alone,” and the stands were decorated with initials from Jota and Silva, as well as red and green choreography that resemble the Portuguese flag of their hometown. A minute of silence was then offered, and the sacred land of Anfield was enveloped in silence.
After the match began, the cheers were sent as usual, but Jota's chants began from the stands in the 20th minute of the first half, expressing his one-minute commemoration. In the 37th minute, new member Ekitique scored the goal and showed off his 20 hand sign to the broadcast camera. Captain, defender Filhill van Dijk also looked up at the sky, pointed his fingers in, offering a prayer to Jota.
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●Premier League 2025-26 Special Feature
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