A Liverpool fan held back the tears as he shared an emotional message following the death of Diogo Jota. Roger Wood, 70, from Leicester, was attending Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Preston North End when he stopped to speak to the ECHO outside Deepdale Stadium.

The match this afternoon is the team’s first game since the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota 10 days ago. In a moving tribute, Roger said Jota was loved by every single Liverpool fan. He told the ECHO: “Emotions take over. I mean how do I put into words how I feel here? Every single Liverpool fan loved Jota. And I would want to be watching him play here today.”

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Holding up a Diogo Jota shirt, Roger said: “But this number, this name, will live on – because we’re Liverpool. This will live on, forever”.

Roger was in attendance at the game with son Callum Wood, 32, and told the ECHO: “We were always coming to this game”.

Earlier this week Liverpool FC announced they would be retiring number 20 in honour of Jota who died on July 3.

Liverpool FC said: “By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten.

Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the number 20.

“As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20.”

Today’s match against Preston North End will be the first pre-season friendly of the summer for Liverpool.

Liverpool returned to training on Tuesday, before consulting with players and staff to decide on whether this game would go ahead.

The afternoon has so far been emotional for the team and fans alike with the match marking their first since the 28 year old’s sudden death.

The afternoon has seen many tributes to Jota so far, with Liverpool supporters chanting in honour of Jota before the official tributes began at 2.50pm.