Our 20 favourite Diogo Jota memories

Diogo Jota, Liverpool’s centre-forward, has been taken from us. The 28-year-old Portugal international and his brother Andre Silva passed away on Thursday 3 July following a traffic accident.

Their car left the road in the Spanish region of Zamora shortly after midnight. News of Diogo and Andre’s deaths has devastated the football world and Liverpool has been plunged into mourning.

Jota joined the Reds in 2020 from Wolves in a £41m deal. He made an electrifying start to his Anfield career and eventually won everything the domestic game had to offer for the Reds.

He was a key part of the domestic cup double-winning team of 2022 and became a Premier League champion only a few short weeks ago. Jota scored his final-ever Liverpool goal in the Merseyside derby against Everton in April.

That will forever be his signoff - but Jota thrilled Liverpool fans throughout his five years at the club.

“Better than Figo,” goes the song, and Liverpool fans certainly took the Portuguese striker to their hearts from minute one.

From scoring on his league debut against Arsenal to being pictured with the Premier League trophy at the end of the 2024/25 season there is no shortage of special moments.

In honour of Diogo Jota - “he wears the number 20” - here are our 20 favourite memories from his unforgettable Liverpool career. RIP Diogo Jota.

Jota signs for the world champions

From day one Diogo knew what it meant to play for Liverpool.

“All of my path since I was a kid and now, to join a club like Liverpool – the world champions – is just unbelievable,” he said in his first LFC interview.

The Reds had earlier defeated Flamengo to win the FIFA Club World Cup - confirming their status as the best team in the world.

Jota came through at Pacos de Ferreira before moving onto Atletico Madrid, Porto (loan) and Wolves. After one season in the Championship - and two in the Premier League following promotion - Jota became a Red in September 2020.

Replacing Coutinho in the Fab Four

When Jota came to the club it was initially speculated that he would replace or rotate with Sadio Mane on the left wing. But it didn’t exactly happen like that.

Rather than come into the line-up at the expense of the Senegal legend, he complemented Liverpool’s existing attacking options perfectly.

He was in fact a belated replacement-in-kind for Philippe Coutinho - who left two years before Jota arrived.

Whether it was wide right, wide left, in behind or as a false 9, the tireless Portuguese worker did whatever he was asked of him - often giving his fellow strikers the opportunity to shine while he toiled away from the limelight.

Debut goal versus Arsenal

Jota made his Liverpool debut in a facile EFL Cup victory against Lincoln, coming off the bench for his league debut against Arsenal in September 2020.

The game was in the balance until the 88th minute - when Jota swept home a decisive goal to make it 3-1 and put the game beyond the Gunners.

It was typical of what was to follow for the forward in the years to come - a goal from the bench and a goal against Arsenal.

Atalanta hat-trick

Jota got his Liverpool career off to a scintillating start - scoring more goals in his first 10 matches than anyone else since Robbie Fowler in 1993.

The marksman scored his first club hat-trick in November 2020 in a 5-0 Champions League win against Atalanta. Amazingly, Jota was starting only his SIXTH game for the club and scored his fifth, sixth, and seventh goals on the night in Bergamo.

Crucial backheel against Man Utd

Jota popped up with the equaliser - a stylish backheel - to help Jurgen Klopp to his first victory at Old Trafford. The Reds came from behind to win 2-4 at the home of their deposed rivals - in a game conducted against the backdrop of noisy protests over the Glazers’ ownership of the club.

Liverpool were badly in need of the points as they tried to regain promotion to the Champions League places. This game set up the next encounter at West Brom - where Alisson netted an emotional late winner.

'Historic' goal v Man U

This game came during an unbelievable start to the season - 10 wins and three draws in their first 13 games. Jota described the performance as “historic” in the aftermath - although the game is probably best remembered for a Mo Salah hat-trick.

Nonetheless, Jota helped Liverpool on their way to a 5-0 victory by netting the second on the day. Amazingly it was the third time they’d scored five goals in a game that season despite it being only October.

Reminding Atletico of his talent

Liverpool took command of their Champions League group by demolishing Atletico Madrid 2-0 at Anfield in November 2021. Sadio Mane and Jota scored early goals to see off Diego Simeone’s side - with Liverpool going on to reach the final that season against Real Madrid.

Having let Jota go without really giving him a shot, this was a reminder to Atleti of the talent he possessed.

Merseyside derby goal

Rafael Benitez was under pressure as Everton manager when Liverpool rocked up for the derby in December 2021. Having won only one of their previous nine trips to Goodison, this was an emphatic statement from Klopp’s men.

Salah got two that night and Jota put the cherry on the cake with a fine finish late on.

Two EFL Cup semi-final goals versus Arsenal

Liverpool were in need of inspiration with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane away at the Africa Cup of Nations. And Jota showed what he was made of - netting twice in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-finals at the Emirates.

Klopp called his striker “world-class” in the aftermath of this game. He wasn’t wrong.

“We were completely convinced when he arrived at the club he would help us massively," Klopp said. "Since he is here he has made another step, he has turned into a really world class striker."

EFL Cup final shootout - first major honour

Having helped Liverpool to the final with his two goals in the semis - Jota had to contend himself with a place on the bench as Salah and Mane returned to the lineup.

But he was asked to weave his magic from the bench once again, coming on for the last 10 minutes of play. The game went all the way to penalties - with every single outfield player scoring their attempts and Jota was no exception.

Kepa Arrizabalaga famously missed the decisive kick and Jota had his first major honour as a Red.

FA Cup quarter-final saviour

Liverpool were still chasing the quadruple at this point. Every game mattered. Jota - as usual - popped up with an opportunistic winner with only 12 minutes to go.

His goal set up Klopp’s first-ever FA Cup semi-final - and the Reds would see off Man City in that Wembley encounter for good measure.

Forest had won in earlier rounds against Premier League opponents Arsenal and Leicester and threatened Liverpool’s ambitions until Jota did what he does best - scoring his 19th goal of the season to that point.

Standing in for Salah

Not for the first time, Liverpool lost Salah early in a major final. This wasn’t the 2018 Champions League however, it was the 2022 FA Cup final versus Chelsea at Wembley.

Jota was brought on for the Egyptian after only half an hour, playing well in another keenly contested 0-0 draw. Again, the sides would be separated by penalty kicks.

Having seen Mane miss a potentially match-winning kick, the pressure was on Jota, who made no mistake from the spot. Kostas Tsimikas rolled home the winning effort, making an FA Cup winner out of Jota.

Three assists for Mo

This was a landmark victory in the Champions League against Rangers in October 2022. Jota didn’t actually start; he came off the bench with only 15 minutes to go at Ibrox.

Despite his relatively short playing time, Jota provided THREE assists for fellow substitute Mo Salah in a stunning display. Liverpool piled on the pain towards the end - overcoming the Scottish side 7-1. Jota played no small part in the win.

Ending the drought

Jota had been a full year without a goal for the Reds when they visited Elland Road in April 2023. This was just the tonic, therefore, as the Portuguese netted TWICE - and assisted one more - in a 6-1 win.

Liverpool stopped the rot - they had been winless in four in the league - but it wouldn’t be enough to secure Champions League football.

EUPHORIC winner versus Spurs

How satisfying was this? Former Everton player Richarlison appeared to have rescued an unlikely and undeserved point for Spurs at Anfield in April 2023.

But he hadn’t reckoned with Jota.

Just seconds after the North London side made it 3-3, Jota struck at the other end - capitalising on a Spurs defensive horror show. The fact it was Richarlison who was left so disappointed made this moment all the sweeter. Pure euphoria.

Player of the Month

When Salah is at Afcon it’s always a tricky period for the Reds. But they breezed through January 2024 without the Egypt superstar and they largely had Jota to thank for that.

Having recovered from injury at the end of the calendar year, Jota came off the bench to give an assist in the 4-2 win against Newcastle.

He scored twice against Bournemouth in a 4-0 win - adding another assist - and rounded off the month with another goal against Chelsea in a terrific 4-1 victory.

That made it five goal involvements in only three games - providing Liverpool with the Salah-less boost they needed.

First goal of the Slot era

Diogo Jota scored the first goal of Arne Slot’s reign - popping up to give the Reds the lead in a tricky encounter at Portman Road against Ipswich.

He began the season in possession of the starting shirt - combining beautifully with his fellow forwards on the opening day of the season. Liverpool did not relent all season long.

Winner versus Crystal Palace

This would prove to be a very testing afternoon for the Reds - but gave them the opportunity to show EXACTLY what they were made of in the title race.

They lost both Alexis Mac Allister and Alisson to injury that day - but Jota’s ninth-minute goal gave them the buffer they needed to see out the result.

It showed that the title wouldn’t come solely through beautiful, free-flowing football. Sometimes you have to dig in and Jota had those qualities in abundance.

Vital equaliser versus Forest

The only team to beat Liverpool in the Premier League to that point, by January Nottingham Forest were very much the top flight’s surprise package.

Their City Ground home was a difficult place to go and when Forest took the lead it looked like Liverpool would be again under threat at the top.

But following Chris Wood’s opener, Jota kept his composure to net a crucial header. The game before, Slot’s side dropped points against Manchester United - and this point was a crucial step along the path towards the title.

When Liverpool needed him most, Jota was there.

The final goal

This is the most difficult one to write about. It’s no secret that Jota had been struggling - without a goal since January and seemingly outside the coach’s starting plans.

But he popped up with his last-ever Liverpool goal on the finest stage of all - the Merseyside derby. And it was a world-class dribble and finish, one that perfectly showed what he was all about.

The footage is beginning to go viral once again. Please, cherish it.