Emotional premier league start
Moving moment at Wirtz debut
15.08.2025 – 10:03 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The former Liverpool player Diogo Jota died in early July. In the first home game after his death, the fans thought of him.
With a moving minute’s silence, FC Liverpool opened the new Premier League season. Before the first home game against the AFC Bournemouth, club and fans recalled Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who died in Spain in early July.
On the famous grandstand the Kop, spectators kept colored panels in green, red and white. From this, the lettering “DJ20” and “AS30” – a tribute to the initials and jersey numbers of the deceased brothers formed.
Even before the kick -off, there was a variety of banners, flags and scarves with portraits and dedications for Diogo Jota and André Silva in the stadium. The fans sang the club anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Even during the game, Diogo Jota’s name always sounded from the ranks. Especially in the 20th minute – Jota’s former number number – it got loud on the Angard Road.
The news of the death of the two Portuguese footballers had made great sympathy far beyond football. At the start of the season of the Premier League, a minute’s silence is to be held in all stages before the games.
In terms of sport, the evening was also marked by a fresh start. With Florian Wirtz, a German international made his debut in the Premier League. The newcomer from Leverkusen was just as in the starting eleven as Jeremie Frimpong, who also came from Bayer, and former Frankfurt Hugo Ekitiké.