Once the title was wrapped up in April, it’s fair to say that every fan was looking forward to watching the team lift the Premier League trophy, particularly after the empty stadium presentation of the 19/20 season.
It made this title even more special, as every fan felt like they had missed out that season. You could see that from the players and fans alike. The parade around the city then took place with hundreds of thousands celebrating, only for a driver to hit many in the crowds. It was a miracle everyone survived.
The transfer activity soon began. Rumours of a mega-money signing of Florian Wirtz soon became reality, with Jeremie Frimpong brought in to replace Trent and Milos Kerkez seen as the long-term successor to Andy Robertson.
Every fan had the same thought… the Champions are investing from a position of strength and it looked like there was more evolution to come with Caoimhin Kelleher, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliot looking like they were being moved on and big name replacements being linked.
Then on 3rd July the club and football around the world was brought to a standstill. Diogo Jota, our Number 20, and his brother Andre Silva had been tragically lost in a car accident in Spain.
Two weeks on and I still can’t believe I’m writing that. This tragic news has hit me hard. I’m a father of three kids under 7, so this felt particularly close to home as a football supporter, Liverpool fan and father.
The human tragedy of this is heartbreaking. In two months Diogo had celebrated a Premier League title, Nations League victory with Portugal and a marriage to his childhood sweetheart and mother of his three children. How and why can a 28-year-old who had so much to live for be taken so suddenly?
I think when you put together all elements of his playing success, his recent marriage, his young family, he was with his brother, he was on his way back to Liverpool and that he was a genuinely fantastic likeable guy, it has seen the outpouring of emotion and tributes go so far and wide. I don’t recall anything like it.
It has surpassed club loyalties, city rivalries and touched non-football fans. Everyone can relate in some way to Diogo and everyone has talked about him as if they had lost someone close to them. We are all utterly devastated and all our thoughts are forever with the family.
It really makes you think about life and how we must live it whilst we can. Book that trip you’ve always wanted to go on, follow your dream and tell your family you love them more often. I did exactly that and got really emotional doing so. These moments bring families and friends closer together and remind us of what they mean to us.
The club and players have led the way with the tributes and have honoured Diogo and Andre in everything they have done so far. Sadly we know how to honour those who have passed as it has come our way too many times.
But time doesn’t stop and we have to learn how to cope with the loss. How the players deal with this going forward remains to be seen. It’s going to break some of them, maybe it gives others that little bit extra to go out and win for Diogo. I would love to see a season of glory to honour him, but I would have much preferred to see that Diogo J. 20 shirt as he was standing on the touchline ready to come on and score again.
Either way, we have all been reminded that football doesn’t really matter. We love it, we talk about it daily and we couldn’t do without it. But at times like these, we just wish we could all live a long and healthy life surrounded by our loved ones.
Diogo. Our eternal No. 20.
Rute and family. Forever in our hearts.
You’ll never walk alone.
