The highly anticipated new Premier League season kicked off at Anfield on Friday, with some supporters still wiping away tears from their eyes on a bright, sunny day. Those same supporters likely wiped very different tears away once the final whistle sounded following a six-goal affair that saw the home club walk away with a 4-2 victory.
The emotions were on full display ahead of the opener between Liverpool and Bournemouth as fans paid tribute to late Reds star Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away along with his brother André Silva in a car crash earlier this summer.
Banners, signs, balloons and scarves emblazoned with Jota’s name, face, and No. 20 kit number were raised above heads by those in attendance when the collective sang out Liverpool’s beloved anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Broadcast of the match showed some fans teary-eyed while singing the traditional song. The club’s star player, Mohamed Salah, looked upward while the anthem rang out through the ground.
The public address announcer called for a period of silence in memory of “our forever 20” and his brother, who died on July 3. Liverpool players stood side-by-side with their arms draped over one another’s shoulders as fans displayed a collective mosaic sign in the stands that spelled out “DJ 20” and “AS 30,” shown in green, red and white colors – the colorway of the brothers’ native Portugal flag.
