Liverpool pay out Diogo Jota's £140,000-a-week contract to his widow and family: Manager Arne Slot reveals club's 'not normal' gesture
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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed a heartfelt sentiment regarding Diogo Jota following the Liverpool 4-2 victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League 2025-26 opener at Anfield. Slot revealed that he would have liked to bring Jota on during the tense moment when the game was tied 2-2, but he could not due to tragic circumstances. Jota and his brother Andre Silva tragically died in a car accident on July 3, and their loss has deeply affected the football community worldwide.
Slot stated, "Normally at 2-2 everyone knows which player I look to at that moment in time. I would have loved to bring in Diogo Jota, but I could not for terrible reasons. But tonight the fans and the players did what he did for us many times in the past." This tribute highlighted Jota's importance to the team and the emotional impact of his absence.
Liverpool started strong with goals from Hugo Ekitike (37') and Cody Gakpo (49'), but Bournemouth fought back with a brace from Antonie Semenyo (64', 76') to level the match. Later, Federico Chiesa scored in the 88th minute and Mohamed Salah added a late goal in stoppage time (90+4) to seal the victory for Liverpool.
The team's first competitive match since the tragedy was marked by both resilience and remembrance, as Liverpool honored Jota's legacy on the field amid a challenging start to the season.
PP