Liverpool and Loss: Football's Role When the Unthinkable Happens
This is an abridged version; the full article is available free on our 'It Was Always… Liverpool' Substack page:
Remembering in Motion
Football rarely stands still. Even in the shadow of grief, the game carries forward. For Liverpool, the pre-season friendly at Preston North End comes with heavy hearts following the tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre. The loss hangs over the squad, yet football has a way of restoring, of pulling people back together. Those who lived through past traumas know this deeply.
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Shadows of 1985
In 1985, Liverpool fans and players were reeling from the disaster at Heysel. The scale of the tragedy, and the moral reckoning that followed, changed everything. Supporters were stared at like criminals. A simple train change at Preston felt hostile. The shame and judgement were undeniable. Yet the following season, Liverpool went on to win the league and FA Cup double. It did not erase what happened, but it reminded everyone that the game can help rebuild broken spirits.
Healing After Hillsborough
Hillsborough, in 1989, brought the pain home. The deaths of 97 fans at the FA Cup semi-final cut deeper than anything before. In the aftermath, playing football felt almost disrespectful. But the first match back, away at Celtic, was transformative. Fans were not segregated, they stood together. When You'll Never Walk Alone echoed around the ground, it became a moment of unity and shared humanity. In that space, the healing began.
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New Faces, Same Pain
Jota's death casts a long shadow over the new arrivals at Anfield. Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez are joining a club filled with sorrow. They will feel it too, even if they did not know him. Arne Slot must guide his players through both football and mourning. Playing again helps. It does not mean moving on, it means carrying on. Jota will be remembered with love.
As for justice, Liverpool has not forgotten the failures that followed Hillsborough. The Hillsborough Law remains a live issue. Promises have been made, but real action is overdue. The families and city are watching closely.
Liverpool remembers. Always.
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