Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Darwin Nunez has sent an emotional message to Diogo Jota after paying a fitting tribute to his former Liverpool teammate in the Reds’ first friendly of the summer.

Liverpool beat Preston 3-1 on an emotional afternoon at Deepdale, with Arne Slot’s side playing for the first time since Jota’s death alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car accident in Spain.

Following the announcement that the Portuguese star’s number 20 jersey would be retired at all levels at Anfield, more tributes were paid before, during and after the Reds’ opening game of their pre-season schedule, with fans singing Jota’s name throughout.



Read More.

The Uruguayan paid tribute to Jota as he pulled out two of his iconic celebrations in front of the away end.

First, he clapped his hands together in the same manner in which Jota memorably did against Everton in 2021, before going on to use his most famous celebration as he sat on the pitch and mimed playing with a video game controller.

The latter gesture was in reference to Jota’s celebration after scoring a late winner against Tottenham in 2023, and has been replicated by other players across the world following his death, including Paris Saint-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos and Jota’s former Wolves teammate Raul Jimenez.

?

Darwin NUnez pulls out Diogo Jota's celebration in front of the Liverpool fans.

It holds particular significance for Nunez, who celebrated with Jota on that day against Spurs, having held his teammate’s head as he sat on the ground in what has now become an iconic picture.

And Nunez referenced those celebrations as he sent a special message to Jota on social media following the game against Preston.

Posting two pictures of himself performing the celebrations alongside a black and white image of him with Jota during the Tottenham game, Nunez wrote: “I know today you celebrated with me like that time.”

The striker's post drew plenty of love from his fellow teammates, with Milos Kerkez, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz among those to reply with a love heart emoji on Instagram.

Nunez was seen being consoled by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk after the game as the Reds’ players stood in front of the traveling supporters, with fans singing Jota’s iconic song.

"What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well.

Can we train again

If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train
For more news relating to Everton, visit our sister site EFC Live.