Diogo Jota’s sons lead Liverpool and Wolves out at Anfield | OneFootball

Diogo Jota’s sons, Dinis and Duarte, led Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers out at Anfield, the first meeting of the clubs since the Portugal forward’s death.

According to Telegraph, both sets of supporters paid tribute to their former player, who died aged 28 in a car crash with his younger brother André Silva in July in northwestern Spain.

The boys’ mascot role drew an ovation, and the Kop applauded as You’ll Never Walk Alone was sung. Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, greeted former team-mates in the tunnel before they walked out with captain Virgil van Dijk.

The previous evening, Wolves officials visited the stadium memorial and laid flowers. Jota was top scorer in the 2017-18 promotion season, then signed a five-year Liverpool deal in 2020, winning the 2024-25 league title.

Cardoso and her sons attended Liverpool and Wolves’ first home matches of the 2025-26 campaign in August. At Molineux on August 16, a giant tifo of Jota was unfurled before kick-off against Manchester City.

Liverpool have permanently retired his No 20 shirt, with tributes observed in the 20th minute of matches.

In his programme notes, Arne Slot wrote that reflecting on the past 12 months ignites a roller-coaster of emotions. He said his thoughts were with Jota’s family on their first Christmas without him. It was not his place to suggest where they might find comfort, and he hoped the affection Jota still inspires could offer solace, adding that Wolves were also deeply affected.

Source: Telegraph