Liverpool has honored Diogo Jota with a touching addition to the first-team bus ahead of the new Premier League season, which starts against Newcastle on August 23
Diogo Jota passed away in July 2025 after a fatal car crash
Diogo Jota passed away in July 2025 after a fatal car crash(Image: 2025 Marc Atkins)
Liverpool has honored former player Diogo Jota on the team bus ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 season.
The Portuguese striker tragically lost his life alongside his brother, Andre, in July 2025 following a car accident in northern Spain. Jota had played an integral role in Liverpool's 2024/25 Premier League triumph, and the loss of the brothers prompted an immense outpouring of grief in the days, weeks and months that followed.
Liverpool has paid a number of tributes over the last year, including retiring the No. 20 shirt across its first team, women's team and academy teams. Earlier this year, the club also unveiled a poignant, permanent tribute at Anfield in the form of a sculpture.
Named the "Forever 20" sculpture, its design incorporates a heart in reference to his famous goal celebration, as well as lyrics from the fan chant, "he will take us to victory, oh, his name is Diogo".
The sculpture is mounted on a stone plinth and displays his shirt number, as well as that of his brother.
In the upcoming season, Jota will now be with the team wherever it goes, with a special homage to the striker incorporated into the design of the team bus.
Situated at the back of the bus is imagery of Jota's banner, which is regularly displayed on the Kop and was created using the famous image of him holding the Premier League trophy after the 2024/25 title triumph.
Jota played an integral role in Liverpool's success that season, scoring six goals and registering four assists in 26 league appearances. One of his most important goals came in the narrow 1-0 victory over bitter rival Everton as the Reds closed in on the title.
Over the course of his Liverpool career, following his arrival at Anfield in September 2020, he scored 65 goals and registered 26 assists in 182 appearances across all competitions.
As well as the Premier League title, he also won the FA Cup and League Cup with the Reds, while also reaching the Champions League final in 2022.
Liverpool will begin the new season under head coach Andoni Iraola on August 23 when it travels to face Newcastle at St. James' Park.
The team's first home game will be against Nottingham Forest one week later on August 29.
Before then, Liverpool's preseason schedule concludes next week with a doubleheader against Serie A side Como at Anfield.
A behind-closed-doors game will kick off earlier in the day before an evening fixture gets underway at 6 p.m. local time.