Mohamed Salah breaks down in tears as Liverpool pay emotional tribute to Diogo Jota and stars dedicate goals to late team-mate in Bournemouth win

Mohamed Salah broke down in tears as Liverpool paid tribute to Diogo Jota with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth at an emotionally charged Anfield on Friday night. 

The Egyptian wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time and mimicked Jota’s ‘crocodile’ celebration in a tribute to his team-mate who died in July. 

Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, and Federico Chiesa also scored and paid tribute to the former forward by signing the number 20, his old kit number which has since been retired.  

Liverpool’s Premier League curtain-raiser against Bournemouth at Anfield became the backdrop for heartfelt tributes to the Jota and his brother Andre Silva. 

Fans belted out a moving rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and held up flags bearing Jota’s face while players gathered in a huddle around the centre circle. At full time, they also sang to Jota. 

A perfectly observed moment of silence was held as fans held up a green, red, and white mosaic in the Kop reading ‘DJ20’.

Mohamed Salah broke down in tears after Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2, paying tribute to Diogo Jota

Salah fought back the tears on an emotionally charged night as Anfield paid its respects

Fans held up flags at Anfield as they paid their respects to a popular figure around the club

Liverpool paid tribute to the forward by dedicating the matchday programme cover to him 

On July 3, the Portuguese brothers died aged 28 and 25 following a car crash in the early hours in northern Spain.

A banner was also erected on the Kop reading: ‘Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda – Anfield will always be your home, You’ll Never Walk Alone’ as a message to Jota’s family. 

The forward had married his childhood sweetheart just 11 days before his passing, following a campaign culminating in trophy-winning successes for both club and country.

Jota was part of Liverpool’s title-winning side – their 20th top-flight triumph – and Portugal’s team that won the Nations League in June.

On Friday, a minute’s silence preceded kick-off, with both teams wearing black armbands. There was also a special fan mosaic of Jota in the stands.

Images of Jota and Andre were displayed on the stadium screens, while the ‘Forever 20’ emblem – now a season-long tribute – adorned the shirts of Liverpool players.

Reds manager Arne Slot made a gracious mention to Jota’s family in Friday’s matchday programme.

The Dutchman said: ‘We know that this will be a very emotional occasion, given it is the first league game we have played since we lost Diogo and Andre.

A new mural was unveiled in Liverpool in tribute to Jota in the days leading up to the game 

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Source: Dailymail.co.uk | Read Full Story…