Deepdale was packed for the pre-season friendly against Liverpool in emotional circumstances following Jota's death in a car crash Pic: Blog Preston
Deepdale was packed for the pre-season friendly against Liverpool in emotional circumstances following Jota’s death in a car crash Pic: Blog Preston
Deepdale played host to an emotional pre-season friendly as Diogo Jota was remembered.
The Liverpool forward died in a car crash in early July and Preston North End players, staff and fans joined in unison with the Reds to pay tribute.
Ahead of kick-off there was hardly a dry eye in the house as Claudia Rose Maguire, wife of former PNE player Sean Maguire, sang North End anthem Can’t Help Falling in Love followed by the whole stadium joining a poignant You’ll Never Walk Alone in memory of Jota.
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As the words to the Liverpool anthem drifted across Deepdale, North End captain Ben Whiteman emerged and carried a bouquet of flowers the length of the pitch to lay them in front of the travelling Liverpool supporters.
Watch below as Whiteman lays flowers in front of Liverpool fans or on our YouTube channel
A minutes silence was impeccably observed before in the 20th minute the stadium broke into applause to remember Jota – who wore the 20 shirt for Liverpool.
Watch below the stadium erupt in applause in the 20th minute, or on our YouTube channel
In the sweltering heat, both sides wore black armbands and a 16-page matchday programme was dedicated to Jota and Silva.
On the pitch, Liverpool’s Premier League class showed through as they headed back to Merseyside with a 3-1 victory.
But for North End, it was ‘pure class’ in how they handled what was an emotional and difficult moment for one of the world’s leading football clubs and both sets of fans have been complementary about the decisions taken for on and off-field tributes.
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