Diogo Jota’s sons, Dinis and Duarte, led out the teams amid emotional scenes at Anfield in the first fixture between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers since the death of the Portugal forward.
Both sets of fans honoured their former player, who died aged 28 in a car crash alongside his younger brother André Silva in July in northwestern Spain.
The announcement that his sons would be mascots for the Premier League game was greeted with an ovation from the stands. They were applauded by the Kop before leaving the field as You’ll Never Walk Alone was sung.
Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, was in the tunnel before the match and hugged Jota’s old team-mates from both teams before her sons led out the teams with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
Wolves had visited the memorial for Jota at the stadium the evening before the game, with officials laying flowers in tribute. Jota was top scorer in the 2017-18 season when Wolves were promoted to the Premier League. He signed a five-year deal in 2020 with Liverpool, where he won the 2024-25 league title.
Jota’s widow and her two sons were present for Liverpool and Wolves’ first home games of the 2025-26 Premier League season in August. At Molineux, they unfurled a giant tifo banner of Jota before they kicked off against Manchester City on August 16.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool enters the pitch with Diogo Jota’s sons Dinis (left) and Duarte (right) at Anfield.Credit: Getty Images
Liverpool permanently retired Jota’s No.20 shirt following his death, with fans paying tribute to him in the 20th minute of matches.
Writing in his match-day programme notes ahead of Saturday’s game, Liverpool manager Arne Slot reflected on the past 12 months, which the Dutchman admitted “ignites a roller-coaster of emotions” as he looks back on everything that has happened.
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