Virgil van Dijk pays emotional tribute to Diogo Jota as sons prepare for Liverpool gesture
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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has paid tribute to Diogo Jota in his programme notes ahead of an emotional Anfield afternoon when Wolves visit on Saturday, with the forward's family set to attendVirgil van Dijk and Diogo Jota in Liverpool training(Image: PA)Virgil van Dijk says everyone's thoughts at Liverpool Football Club remain with the family of Diogo Jota ahead of what is expected to be an emotional Anfield afternoon when Wolves visit on Saturday.The Reds brought Jota to Merseyside from Wolves in September 2020 and this weekend marks the first meeting between the sides since the beloved Portuguese tragically lost his life in a car accident in early July alongside his brother, Andre Silva.Jota's wife, Rute, will attend the match and their two sons, Dinis and Duarte, will participate as mascots on the day. The loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in July was something none of us could ever have prepared for, and something all of us are still coming to terms with.Diogo Jota and Virgil van Dijk(Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)"Our thoughts, as ever, remain with Diogo and Andre's family.
They will never, ever be forgotten, and we will carry their memory always."Van Dijk adds: "In terms of football, this season has been mixed, to say the least. We have seen a lot of changes in terms of the squad, with players leaving and new players arriving, and I think it's fair to say that we have not yet shown our very best, in terms of consistency."We have had some good games and some memorable victories, still, but it has also been extremely challenging, with some really tough moments along the way.
As captain, trust me when I say I feel those tough moments as much as anyone.Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreFrom $100LFC.comSee the dealLiverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world."Now though, the focus is solely on Saturday's game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where we will be looking to build on some positive recent results, and end the year on a high in front of our supporters at Anfield."I know that a lot of people will be looking at this game, looking at our opponents' position in the league table and expecting us to win, but we know that this will be an extremely tough game against a team which will have a lot of motivation."Following Jota's passing, Liverpool made the decision to permanently retire his No.