Darwin Nunez paid the perfect tribute to Diogo Jota during Liverpool's opening pre-season game against Preston, with the striker pulling out two of his former teammate's celebrations after scoring.
The Reds made their first outing since the tragic death of their No.20 after Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in Spain. Tributes have flooded in ever since, with the club confirming it will retire Jota's jersey number at all levels.
More tributes were paid ahead of kick-off at Deepdale, while Nunez would go on to commemorate Jota in his own way after putting Liverpool 2-0 ahead in the friendly.
Having been brought on for the second half, with Arne Slot changing his team completely at half-time, Nunez doubled Liverpool's lead after Conor Bradley had put the visitors ahead during the first half.
The Uruguayan picked up a loose ball before rounding Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen and rolling the ball home. Nunez then went on to pull out one of Jota's celebrations, clapping his hands in the same style fans will remember from the Portuguese star against Everton back in 2021.
Nunez then pulled out another of Jota's celebrations, sitting in front of the Liverpool fans and miming playing with a video game controller - a celebration Jota made his own after scoring a late winner against Tottenham in 2023.
Darwin NUnez pulls out Diogo Jota's celebration in front of the Liverpool fans
Darwin NUnez pulls out Diogo Jota's celebration in front of the Liverpool fans (Image: Getty Images)
The celebration has been recreated by a number of other players across the world since Jota's death, including in other sports away from soccer, with Paris Saint-Germain's Goncalo Ramos and Jota's former Wolves teammate Raul Jimenez among those to pay tribute.
On an emotional day at Deepdale, Liverpool and Preston both commemorated Jota and Silva, with a rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone being sung before an impeccably observed minute's silence.
Ahead of the game, Reds boss Slot paid tribute to Jota and opened up on his message to his players as they return to action.
"What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate," Slot said.
Darwin Nunez scores for Liverpool against Preston
Darwin Nunez scores for Liverpool against Preston (Image: Getty Images)
"What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate [for] what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there’s a wrong decision?
"And I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was. And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his teammates, to the staff, he was always himself.
"So let us try to be ourselves as well. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train. But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you."