Wolves are set to face Diogo Jota's former side Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend
Diogo Jota celebrates scoring for Liverpool
Wolves sold Diogo Jota to Liverpool in 2020(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Wolves paid a touching tribute to Diogo Jota at the start of the Premier League season. The late Portuguese star spent three years at Molineux before joining Liverpool in 2020, with his two former sides meeting at Anfield on Saturday, December 27.
Jota died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in July. The football world was shaken by the Liverpool forward's tragic death, just months after he had helped the Reds clinch the Premier League title.
While the 28-year-old was adored at Anfield, he also won the hearts of the Wolves fanbase. The Portugal international played a key role in the club's Championship triumph and their journey to the Europa League quarter-finals. The Molineux crowd showed their love for Jota ahead of Wolves' opening game against Manchester City in August.
Before kick-off, a huge tifo was unveiled in the South Bank, depicting Jota celebrating a goal for Wolves. Beneath the picture, another banner read: "We'll remember you when you walk in fields of gold."
The latter is a lyric from Jota's favourite song, Fields of Gold by Sting. Supporters also held up black and gold cards to create the backdrop for the Jota tribute.
The Old Gold Pack fan group had initiated a fundraiser for the tifo and also designed several other banners that were displayed inside Molineux. During the match, Wolves fans cheered for Jota throughout the 18th minute, the shirt number he wore for the club.
A tribute to Diogo Jota
Wolves dedicated a tifo to Diogo Jota before their game against Manchester City in August
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(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Both of Jota's parents and his wife Rute Cardoso were present to see the tributes paid to their family member. The Wolves icon had tied the knot with Cardoso, the mother of their three children, just 11 days before his passing.
Ex-Wolves captain Ruben Neves was also in attendance at Molineux, along with Portugal manager Roberto Martinez. After finalising his move to Liverpool in 2020, Jota had expressed his feelings towards Wolves.
He posted on social media: "Thank you @Wolves 3 amazing years with so many achievements and memories! It was really a big pleasure being part of your growth... I will never forget."
Diogo Jota's parents, wife Rute Cardoso and former Wolves star Ruben Neves
Jota's family and former Wolves star Ruben Neves witnessed the tributes at Molineux
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(Image: Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Following his death, Jota was posthumously inducted into the Wolves hall of fame. Initially joining on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2017, he netted 44 goals in 131 appearances.
His younger sibling Andre, 25, was also a professional footballer with Portuguese team Penafiel. Liverpool honoured the brothers during their opening 4-2 victory over Bournemouth.
The Anfield crowd displayed their respect for Jota and Silva with DJ20 and AS30 displays across the Kop and Sir Kenny Dalglish stands before kick-off. An emotional Mohamed Salah performed his former teammate's crocodile celebration after scoring late in the game.
After the win, Liverpool manager Arne Slot said: "I think Mo felt after the game how special that was and probably he felt the emotion. We all knew his family is here, his wife is here and his children are here.
"For them it might be special to hear how much he is loved over here and with the fans and the banner and what they did. But we also feel the emotions of how much grief they still have. That mixed emotions maybe led to Mo being emotional and I think I felt the same without being in tears, but I definitely felt the same emotions."
Wolves are heading to Anfield still in search of their first league victory of the season, having managed to scrape together just two points from 17 matches. Liverpool will be confident of extending the club's dismal run, having won four of their last six games during an unbeaten streak.