Liverpool will welcome the family of the late Diogo Jota to Anfield tonight as the club opens their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth.
Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, and their three children are expected to attend the fixture, with manager Arne Slot using his programme notes to pay a heartfelt tribute.
Jota, 28, and his younger brother, Andre Silva, 25, tragically lost their lives in June following a car accident in northern Spain, just weeks after the Liverpool forward had married his childhood sweetheart.
**ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE**
Slot wrote: “As I have said previously, the tributes that have been paid throughout the football world, and especially within the LFC community, have been truly special, and I know that tonight we will come together to honour them once more.
Liverpool will welcome the family of the late Diogo Jota to Anfield tonight as the club opens their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth
|PA
“I believe that Diogo’s wife, his children and his family will be in attendance and it is important that, as a club, we show that they will always have our love and support as they deal with this most tragic of situations.
“We are there for them always.”
Jota will feature on the cover of a special matchday programme, marking Liverpool’s latest tribute to the much-loved forward.
The club has remembered him at every stage of their pre-season — from ceremonies on the Asia tour to emotional moments back at Anfield and last weekend’s Community Shield clash against Crystal Palace.
In July, Liverpool also retired his No 20 shirt in his honour.
While the city and the club continue to mourn, those who knew him best feel his absence most deeply.
READ MORE: Wayne Rooney, 39, explains 'scary' incident with football fans ahead of new Premier League season
Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso married 11 days before his death | Instagram Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, writing in The Players’ Tribune, offered a personal reflection: “Obviously, and with great emotion, I want to dedicate this paragraph to Diogo.
"I still can’t understand how he left us so early. I always had a good relationship with him, but this past year even more so.
“He was always a very down-to-earth, family-oriented person, and never tried to pretend to be something he wasn’t.
"One day he would come and give you the hug of a lifetime, and the next day he wouldn’t even say hello, hahaha.
“We loved to ‘take the p**s,’ whether it was our Messi vs Cristiano arguments or playing cards.
"I will always choose to remember him with a smile. And I know that with that smile, he’ll be supporting us from above.”
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Diogo Jota helped Liverpool win the Premier League title last season before his tragic death at the age of 28 | PAThis weekend, all Premier League matches will pause for a minute’s silence, with captains wearing black armbands.
Chelsea have also pledged part of their £11.4m Club World Cup bonus to Jota’s family, while Wolves - his former club - will pay their own tribute before facing Manchester City.
At Molineux, fans will receive a special 100-page commemorative programme, packed with unseen moments, stories, and tributes to Jota and his brother.