Paying respects: Phil Thompson and Jon Uriarte
The Portuguese forward was killed in a car accident in Spain en route back to pre-season training at his club, and he died along with his brother Andre Silva.
Liverpool paid tribute to him in their friendly match against Preston, as well as on their tour of Asia, where they faced AC Milan and Yokohama F. Marinos.
On their return to Anfield, however, tears were shed as former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson and Athletic Club president Jon Uriarte laid wreaths in front of the Kop 10 minutes before the Reds kicked off their first of two friendly clashes against the Basque side.
Fans watched on holding scarves, banners, and shirts aloft with a smattering of chants of Jota’s name as Thompson and Uriarte lay the wreaths on the six-yard line, kissing them before setting them on the pitch.
The Merseyside club’s anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ then blared as the two teams took to the field, and there was an air of sadness in the supporters’ chorus as they joined in to sing along.
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The tributes continued into the game, as players, staff, and fans alike all rose to their feet and applauded, with the game stopped, in the 20th minute to pay further respect to Jota, who wore the No20 shirt during his five-year spell at the club.