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Ben Whiteman lays a wreath for Diogo Jota during the pre-season friendly football match between Preston North End and Liverpool at Deepdale stadium in Preston, north-west England on July 13, 2025.

Liverpool’s trip to Preston North End was always going to be an emotional affair as the Reds took to the field for the first time since the tragic death of Diogo Jota.

With a number of tributes planned by both clubs ahead of kick-off, supporters had been asked to be in their seats by 2.45pm.

But the travelling Reds filled the Bill Shankly Kop at Deepdale long before.

Oh, his name is Diogo!”

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Jota’s chant was always going to be ringing in ears at Deepdale.

That rendition might have been the first from the entire stand, but it was not the last.

Singing on loop, Liverpool’s travelling support started chanting in honour of Jota again before the official tributes at 2.50pm.

Claudia Rose Maguire – wife of former Preston player Sean - kicked things off with a rendition of Can’t Help Falling In Love, briefly stopping the Jota chants in the process.

The Liverpool supporters would join in with the line itself, ‘can’t help falling in love with you,’ as the emotions took hold at Deepdale.

The Jota chants then briefly resumed before Maguire started singing a hugely emotional rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Supporters were left shedding tears during the club’s anthem as an emotional Preston captain Ben Whiteman then walked out with a wreath in honour of Jota, and his brother, Andre Silva, walked the length of the Deepdale pitch to lay it in front of the away supporters.

The sight of that alone was greeted with thunderous applause, never mind the completion of the gesture as Whiteman bowed his head to the wreath before rejoining his team-mates at the other end coming out the Deepdale tunnel.

Diogo Jota during the pre-season friendly football match between Preston North End and Liverpool at Deepdale stadium in Preston, north-west England on July 13, 2025.(Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) )

Further applause followed once Maguire had finished the song, before Jota’s chant again took over as the players walked out.

With both sides then taking part in a minute’s silence, Liverpool players couldn't hide their emotions, along with head coach Arne Slot, as the Reds and Preston paid tribute to the Portuguese brothers.

The ECHO was in attendance at Deepdale on what was always going to be a highly emotional occasion.

And it's fair to say there were goosebumps during the aforementioned tributes as the Reds were joined by the Lilywhites in honouring one of their own.

There were dozens of banners in the away end in honour of the Portuguese, while Jota’s chant would continue to be sung.

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Forever Liverpool’s number 20, after the Reds announced their decision to retire his shirt number on Friday, he will never be forgotten.

This was a fitting and moving first public way to honour Jota and Silva.