A real Scouser: What it was like at Anfield when news broke of Diogo Jota's death

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Outside of the football season, it’s a far cry from a bustling matchday, with the only visitors likely to be a smattering of fans wandering around the ground, browsing the club shop or doing a tour of the stadium.But exactly a year ago today, the square was very different as hundreds arrived on a bright Thursday morning to start an impromptu tribute filled with flowers, shirts and scarves to Diogo Jota, forever Liverpool’s number 20, and his brother Andre Silva.The permanent memorial to Jota and his brother Silva, which now stands on that same spot, will remind everyone how shocking and devastating it was when news of his death broke at around 9.30am UK time on July 3 2025.The siblings were killed in a car crash as the Portugal international was making his way back to Merseyside for pre-season training, and just days after he had married long-term partner Rute Cardoso.I will never forget being at my desk in the ECHO office that day. He was taking some friends of his from Mauritius around the famous stadium when he heard about it.He said: “I must admit, I had to check it eight or nine times.

It’s a shame for his club, shame for the fans but most of all it’s a shame for his family.”There is no normal way to react to something like this. He's 28, he’s just been married, a new season is coming up - imagine what the players are going through.

For Ian, it wasn’t just Jota’s ability in front of goal that impressed him.He said: “Everybody always remembers his goals but one thing you always remember is his passion. As a season ticket-holder, he developed a special connection with Jota.Elliot said he spoke to Jota every week after the match, adding that the Portuguese player used to stop to talk to him in the ground as he was making his way off the pitch.Like Ian, it was Jota’s attitude that impressed Elliot.