Liverpool honour Diogo Jota and Andre Silva with heartfelt tributes at Anfield opener

Liverpool played their first game of the Premier League season against Bournemouth

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Anfield delivered a deeply moving tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva before Liverpool’s opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth.

The bereaved star’s wife and children were warmly received on Merseyside as the Reds contested their inaugural league match following the heartbreaking passing of the striker. Jota, alongside his sibling, perished in a motor vehicle accident mere days after the player wed longtime partner Rute Cardoso.

Supporters unveiled a tifo honouring both gentlemen, whilst others on the Kop displayed a banner declaring: “Rute, Dinis, Duate, Matalda – Anfield will always be your home. You’ll never walk alone.”

Premier League champions Liverpool have already paid a number of tributes in pre-season. Fans paid tribute themselves 20 minutes into the Community Shield at Wembley, in honour of Jota’s squad number.

“Ahead of tonight’s first game of the new Premier League season there will be fan-led tribute to Diogo and his brother Andre, with a special mosaic shown in the Kop and the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand,” the club said in the lead-up to the game. “This will be unveiled by fans during a period of silence prior to kick-off against AFC Bournemouth.

“Players will display their own tribute with a specially made ‘Forever 20’ emblem printed into their shirts and stadium jackets, which will remain in place for the season,” the statement added. Liverpool announced in July that Jota’s number 20 shirt would be retired by the club.

“It is important that, as a club, we show that they will always have our love and support as they deal with this most tragic of situations. We are there for them always,” Reds boss Arne Slot said in his programme notes.

The football world has been in mourning ever since Jota and Silva died, and tributes have come from far and wide. In the lead-up to the start of the season, Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Chelsea confirmed they would make a donation to the footballers’ family from their Club World Cup winnings, while Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola also acknowledged the situation.

“It’s a big test for us and in the beginning it’s going to be emotional with the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “But we will focus on our job, try and create some chances, keep believing and give them a hard game. Let’s try to go there and give them a surprise.”

There will be a moment’s silence held at all Premier League grounds this weekend. Players around the country will also wear black armbands in memory of Jota and Silva.

Liverpool go into the new season with a strengthened squad, having spent more than £200million to bring the likes of Florian Wirtz,, Hugo Ekitike and former Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez to Anfield. They confirmed another new signing on Friday, with Giovanni Leoni’s arrival from Parma announced just hours before kick-off at Anfield

Opponents Bournemouth have a new look back-line, with Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi leaving along with Kerkez. They confirmed the arrival of centre-back Bafode Diakite two days before the Liverpool game, with the former Lille star becoming the second most expensive signing in their history.