Newcastle United fans are planning a classy tribute for Diogo Jota after the Liverpool forward died in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning. The Portuguese forward passed away aged 28 alongside his brother, Andre Silva, who was 26.
The entire footballing community has been united in grief following the tragic incident. Many Liverpool players and club legends, including Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, have paid their respects to Jota and his brother.
Liverpool have confirmed that Jota’s No. 20 shirt will be ‘immortalised’. It’s expected that Jota’s number will be retired, making the Reds the 12th English club to retire a shirt number.
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Newcastle welcome Liverpool to St James' Park on August 23
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Football pales into insignificance at times like these but Liverpool manager Arne Slot now faces the enormous challenge of preparing his team for the 2025-26 season under the most gut-wrenching circumstances. In a statement released on Thursday, the Dutch coach said: “For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.”
It’s currently unclear whether Liverpool will still play their first pre-season friendly against Preston on July 13, as planned. The Reds begin the new season with five friendly matches before the Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley on August 10.
Liverpool's Upcoming Fixtures
July 13
July 26
July 30
August 4
August 10
August 15
August 23
Slot’s men then face Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, in the opening Premier League game of the season, before visiting Newcastle United eight days later. That fixture, at St James’ Park, will be Newcastle’s first home match of the season.
And Newcastle Supporters Worldwide have urged their fellow fans to sing Liverpool’s famous anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone (YNWA) in tribute to Jota. They haven’t forgotten Liverpool fans singing YNWA as a mark of respect after former Newcastle United player Christian Atsu died aged 31 following an earthquake in Turkey in 2023.
The statement on Facebook reads: "A few years ago when Atsu died, We played Liverpool at home and they showed respect by singing YNWA.
"We now play Liverpool in our first home game of the season. We are asking all fans in attendance against Liverpool to sing YNWA at the start of the game to show respect to Jota. Share this to everyone you know who’s at the game on the 23rd of August. RIP JOTA, YNWA."
Liverpool fans have replied in the comments thanking Newcastle Supporters Worldwide for their planned tribute. "This is an amazing gesture and shows why Newcastle fans are a different class,” one Liverpool supporter wrote.
Another said: “As a Liverpool fan this is a great touch. Rivalry goes out the window at times like these." While a third added: "Respect lads."