Liverpool retire No. 20 jersey in memory of Jota

Liverpool person confirmed they volition discontinue the No.20 garment successful honour of guardant Diogo Jota, who died successful a car clang alongside his brother, André Silva, past week.

Jota wore the No.20 for the duration of his clip astatine Anfield aft signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers successful 2020.

Now, pursuing consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the nine person announced Jota's squad fig volition beryllium retired crossed each levels, including LFC Women and Academy.

The determination is designed not lone to recognise Jota's publication connected the transportation but besides the idiosyncratic interaction helium has had connected those connected with the shot nine during his 5 years connected Merseyside, the nine said.

"As a club, we were each acutely alert of the sentiment of our supporters -- and we felt precisely the aforesaid way," Michael Edwards, CEO of Football for Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, said successful a connection Friday.

"It was vitally important to america to impact Diogo's wife, Rute, and his household successful the determination and to guarantee they were the archetypal to cognize of our intention.

"I judge this is the archetypal clip successful Liverpool Football Club's past that specified an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we tin accidental this is simply a unsocial tribute to a uniquely fantastic person.

"By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal -- and truthful ne'er to beryllium forgotten.

"Diogo joined america successful 2020, helium won america fig 20 (Liverpool's 20th English league title), and helium wore -- with honour, favoritism and affection -- the fig 20.

"As acold arsenic Liverpool Football Club is concerned, helium volition beryllium everlastingly our fig 20."

Liverpool are acceptable to play their archetypal crippled since Jota's decease -- a affable against Championship broadside Preston North End -- connected Sunday.

The Premier League champions' archetypal preseason affable of the summertime could see respective first-team players, who reported to grooming connected Tuesday.

The archetypal planned instrumentality to preseason grooming was delayed, with galore players having attended Jota's funeral successful Portugal past Saturday.