Liverpool squad bid emotional farewell to Diogo Jota at team-mate’s funeral

Liverpool’s squad were united in their grief as they said farewell to team-mate Diogo Jota at the forward’s funeral in Portugal.

A service for the 28-year-old father-of-three, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso almost a fortnight ago, and his brother Andre Silva was held at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church in their home town of Gondomar, near Porto, following their deaths in a car crash on Thursday.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson each carried a floral tribute in the shape of a red shirt bearing the respective numbers of the two brothers.

Head coach Arne Slot and the majority of the squad were present, as were Michael Edwards – the man who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020 when he was sporting director and is now chief executive of football for owners Fenway Sports Group – current sporting director Richard Hughes and head of physiotherapy Lee Nobes, who would have spent many hours with the player during his injury lay-offs.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who was unable to attend his own father’s funeral due to Covid restrictions four years ago, is on international duty with Brazil and so could not be present but posted a poignant message on Instagram which read: “Usually, I post things that make sense, but today, nothing makes sense!

“Once again, an ocean separates me from ‘saying goodbye’ to someone I love! But I know that I am well represented by my club mates!

“To you, my friend Rute, just know that you will never walk alone, we will be with you as soon as possible!”

Many of Jota’s former team-mates also attended, including ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who on Friday laid flowers at the makeshift shrine outside Anfield, James Milner, Thiago Alcantara, who signed in the same