Football: Liverpool players to wear 'Forever 20' patches in Jota's memory
(REUTERS)Liverpool players will wear a "Forever 20" emblem on their shirts and stadium jackets this Premier League season in memory of their former forward Diogo Jota who died in a car crash in Spain three weeks ago.The club also announced on Saturday a special commemoration, including a fan mosaic and a minute's silence ahead of Liverpool's opening game of the season against Bournemouth on August 15.Thousands of flowers, scarves, banners and other tributes have been laid outside Anfield since Jota and his brother Andre Silva died.The club said they have been removed over the past week and stored, while the floral tributes will be composted and used in flower beds across club sites, including Anfield, the AXA Training Centre and AXA Melwood Training Centre.The remaining artefacts will be recycled and used to create a permanent memorial sculpture that will become a focal point of remembrance at Anfield.Liverpool had already announced after consultation with Jota's family that his number 20 shirt will be retired across all levels of the club, including the women's and academy teams.Supporters can have "Diogo J. 20" printed on shirts in club stores, with profits going to LFC Foundation, the club's official charity. The Foundation has committed to creating a grassroots football programme in Jota's name.
A floral tribute will be also laid before kickoff at pre-season games in Hong Kong, Tokyo and at Anfield.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
37 minutes ago
- The National
Florian Wirtz insists £100m price tag 'doesn't matter' as Liverpool ponder next Alexander Isak move
Liverpool's £100 million summer signing Florian Wirtz insists he pays no attention to his mammoth price tag as he looks to help the Premier League champions defend their crown this season. The German attacking midfielder moved to Merseyside from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal that could rise to a British transfer record-breaking £116m with add-ons. Wirtz scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists for Leverkusen last season having played a key role in the German's club's double winning campaign the campaign before. The 22-year-old is already Liverpool's most expensive signing eclipsing the previous best of £75m set by current club captain Virgil van Dijk when he joined from Southampton in January 2018. But even if he also ends up breaking English record, Wirtz is adamant that he will not be fazed by such pressures. "I don't think about it," he said I just want to play football and how much money the clubs pay between each other, it doesn't matter," he said after Liverpool's 3-2 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao on Monday which saw Coady Gakpo score two and Mohamed Salah the other. "Of course the big challenge is to win the title again and it is the most difficult thing so [I will] try and just create chances and also work against the ball. "I can also run a lot so [I will] bring this to the team and then with the ball I can make the team better and bring my team-mates into better situations. "I came because I thought I could fit in this team and I am enjoying to play with these players and getting every time a little bit better so I am happy with how it is going." Wirtz will be playing outside the Bundesliga for the first time having risen through the youth system at Leverkusen where he would end up making 197 appearances, scoring 57 and assisting a further 65. He scored his first goal in Liverpool colours in their friendly win over Yokohama F. Marinos last week and hit the bar with a header in Monday's win over Bilbao. And Wirtz is now looking to forward to the challenge of adapting to rigours of Premier League football. "I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch and the manager gives it to me because I have to respect the position and the players around me," he added. "I will try to find the right places to be and the right spaces to get the ball and to be dangerous and create chances - I have not played a match in the Premier League but I am looking forward and that is why I came. "There are some differences to Germany but I think there is also something I can learn and make me better so I am really looking forward to it. "It's more intense and more physical, every player is really strong, really fast. That is what everybody is telling me." Manager Arne Slot guided Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title last season and has been busy in the transfer market in a summer overshadowed by the death of Portuguese forward Diogo Jota in a car accident. Apart from Wirtz, the Dutchman has also brought in the likes of left-back Milos Kerkez (£40m from Bournemouth), right-back Jeremie Frimpong (£40m from Leverkusen) and striker Hugo Ekitike (£79m from Eintracht Frankfurt). While Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all headed for the Anfield exit recouping around £115m. Uruguayan attacker Darwin Nunez has also been linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. But the Merseysiders could make their biggest swoop yet if they continue their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, after having a bid of £110m turned down by the Magpies on Friday, who value the Sweden international at £150m. Isak missed Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia with the club citing a thigh injury until it eventually emerged that the 25-year-old was considering a move away from Tyneside. After training in Spain with former club Real Sociedad, Isak headed back to Tyneside on Monday morning for talks with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe as the rest of the squad returned from their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea. "He's like any other player, we would expect him to come in and train as normal," said Howe before flying back to the UK. "You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United. "The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad - you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here. "We will make sure that any player does that to earn the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal."
Gulf Today
19 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Goal is to win trophies and give everything: Ait-Nouri on joining City
Ahead of the Premier League 2025-26 season, Rayan Ait-Nouri reflected on joining Manchester City with pride and excitement. He discussed his playing style and experience, his eagerness to learn under Pep Guardiola, and shared his international career highlights alongside his ambitions to grow and win trophies with the club. Rayan expressed his pride and happiness after signing for Manchester City. 'To be honest, I'm very happy and proud. Playing for a club like Manchester City was one of my goals. I'm eager to wear this shirt and give my best. My family is also very happy - today is definitely a very special day,' he said on JioHotstar. 'It was definitely an easy decision. We all know the team - last year they proved to be the best in the world. The players are amazing, and the coach as well. It's a pleasure to train under Pep Guardiola. I'm here to learn and to show what I can do. I will give my best,' Rayan added. Reflecting on his style of play, Rayan said he is more of a technical player who likes to attack. 'First, I'm a technical player. But I also like to run for my teammates and the team. Every day, in training and in games, I try to give everything because working for the team is very important to me. With the ball, I enjoy attacking, crossing, and shooting. I like to defend as well. If I were to describe my football, I would say I'm a technical player. 'My experience in the Premier League will make it easier to settle. It's the same league, the same country, and I've been here in England for a long time. I know the league well. But of course, it's still a new challenge with amazing players and a top coach. I can't wait to train with the team and embrace this next step,' the defender added. On his excitement about working with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Rayan said, 'I'm very excited to work with him. For me, he's the best coach in the world. What he has achieved with this team is incredible. I want to learn from him and work hard alongside my teammates. Most importantly, I will give everything for this shirt. 'It will be incredible, as we all know the squad is top level. I've played against City before, and it was always tough because of the quality of their players. They're incredible. I'm definitely eager to learn from them in training and during games.' Before making the move to the Etihad Stadium, Rayan sought insight from a familiar face - Matheus Nunes, who had previously played alongside him during their time at Wolves. The two maintained regular contact, and Nunes offered the defender a glimpse into life at Manchester City. Indo-Asian News Service
Gulf Today
19 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Utd draw Everton, West Ham rout Bournemouth in US tour finale
Bruno Fernandes scored one goal and set up another as Manchester United drew Everton 2-2 on Sunday to capture the Premier League Summer Series title. The Red Devils earned a final point in Atlanta to top the table with seven in the pre-season friendly tournament, having previously beaten West Ham 2-1 and Bournemouth 4-1 in the round-robin US tour. 'It's improving,' Fernandes told Sky Sports after the match. 'I think the club is doing the best that they can. 'We needed more competition for the players that were here. We needed more quality to get everyone to step up a little bit more, to have more to do to get into the first 11. I think that's what the club is trying to do, the manager, and hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that.' Manchester United finished last season 15th in the Premier League, their worst showing since relegation in 1973-74, managing only 11 wins and nine drawn from 38 matches. 'I think a lot of people have suffered from this,' Fernandes said. 'The fans pay more for the tickets and we really appreciate all the efforts they do for us. 'So it's up to us now players to repay it on the pitch.' Fernandes said the club is working to improve from team and staff to facilities. 'It's every detail. Every small thing matters,' Fernandes said. 'At this football club, you can't do anything wrong on the pitch and off the pitch because it's too big worldwide. 'The culture of this club was winning. It was there. And we need to bring back that.' Everton's James Tarkowski brought down Amad Diallo in the penalty area and Fernandes blasted in the shot from the spot to lift Man United ahead 1-0 in the 19th minute. French-born Senegalese international Iliman Ndiaye equalized for the Toffees in the 40th minute, tapping in off a pass from Senegal's Idrissa Gana Gueye. Mason Mount, who entered the field barely 10 minutes earlier, took a pass from Fernandes and curled in a shot past Jordan Pickford in the 69th minute to put Manchester United back in front. But Everton pulled level in the 75h minute when a ball directed back by Diallo deflected off Manchester United Ayden Heaven and into the back of the Man United net for an own goal. Manager Ruben Amorim inserted newcomer Bryan Mbeumo into his starting lineup, the arrival from Brentford missing earlier matches to finish pre-season training. Diouf sparks West Ham: Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen scored to lift West Ham United over Bournemouth 2-0 earlier, giving the London side two wins from three matches in the Premier League Summer Series. Spot-on set up passes by Senegalese left back El Hadji Malick Diouf, signed only on July 15, led to both West Ham goals. 'Both goals are down to him, the quality that he's got, you can see that,' Bowen said of Diouf. 'He has only been here a few weeks but you would think he has been here years. 'He's humble. He's a brilliant guy for the group and he's obviously a brilliant footballer as well. We're very excited to see what he can continue to do here.' Diouf's centering ball found England's Bowen in the box, but he was forced to slide a pass left to German teammate Fullkrug, who fired in a shot from point-blank range in the 24th minute. Bowen found the net in the 67th minute off a Diouf pass. Bournemouth had plenty of chances in the first 15 minutes but the Cherries found the woodwork to squander early opportunities. 'What I liked was the character about the group. We didn't have the best start we wanted but we stuck in there,' Bowen said. Agence France-Presse
