Our Number 20: Diogo Jota
A Tribute To A Red We’ll Never Forget
During my time as a Liverpool fan, I’d like to think that my fellow supporters and I have seen it all—the soaring highs, the crushing lows, and winning the biggest things in club football. We’ve also experienced how agonizingly close one can get to immortality. However, all of this pales in comparison to the tragedy we witnessed over the last few days—the loss of one of our own. Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, are gone too soon.
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As Liverpool supporters, we’d like to believe the connection we have with those involved with our beloved club is something special. This is double the case with Diogo Jota, who rapidly became one of my favorite players in
the side. While I’m aware that there have been quite a few of these pieces of fans giving tribute to the Portuguese talisman over the last few days, please allow at least one more. I want to pay my respects to not just a great servant of the club, but a kind, loving, and wonderful human being all in all.
Giving Jota His Flowers
What can I say about Diogo Jota that hasn’t already been said throughout his time at Liverpool? He was one of the most instinctive finishers in the club’s history. Jota just found a way to bundle that ball over the goal line. He was an excellent header of the ball as well, wasn’t he? Not the biggest player, but the timing and placement of his headers were just art. They’re something that every young striker should watch over and over. Everyone remembers our famous front three of Mo Salah, Bobby Firmino, and Sadio Mane.
Jota formed what I called the “new front three” along with Salah and Luis Diaz. A frontline, which, mind you, has won everything there is to win domestically. Jota was the perfect transitional piece from that famous frontline to our current, title-winning strikeforce. He was able to fill in and complement whichever player effectively and still do what he does best, bang in the goals.
Speaking of goals, our number 20 has quite a few in his catalog that will forever be etched into our collective memories. His debut goal against Arsenal, a reminder for our North London rivals about things to come, set a precedent for the Portuguese’s eye for goal. His hat-trick against Atalanta that same year in the Champions League, all goals skillfully worked and skillfully scored, put Liverpool fans and rivals on notice that we have a serious and dangerous player on our hands.
AMERICAN SCOUSER TAKES ANFIELD
Goals that proved vital to our League and FA Cup triumphs in 2022 were some of Jota’s best. The brace away to Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final, and the winner against Forest to take us to the FA Cup semi-finals proved Jota is one for the big occasion as well.
The list goes on and on as well. The winning goal in that thrilling 4-3 win over Spurs in 2023. The opener in a 4-1 win against Chelsea in 2024. Most recently, it was the silky smooth winner that saw us take a critical three points over rivals Everton at Anfield last season. It was a trademark Jota goal, showcasing his cleverness around the penalty area and deadly finishing ability. Sadly, it proved to be his final goal in a Liverpool shirt. Nonetheless, it oh so encompassed everything he brought to the club in his five seasons as a Red.
While it’s tough to see the light in a situation that has been the last few days, I try my best to see Diogo at his best for us. I look at the positive experiences he gave, and the many Liverpool fans whose lives he’d made better through countless moments. Our boys in red will no doubt feel the same. They’ll certainly put the love and respect they felt for Diogo on full display when next season starts.
For now, though, it’s time to put football aside. We will remember a player who gave it his all whenever he wore the Liverbird on his chest. He helped us experience some of the best days in our Liverpool supporting lives, and above all else, was a loving husband, father, and son. Rest in peace Diogo Jota, and Andre Silva. You’ll Never Walk Alone.