Darwin Nunez pulled off Diogo Jota‘s trademark celebrations after scoring in Liverpool’s first sport since his loss of life – with a heartbreaking tribute afterwards.
Nunez netted the second purpose in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Preston on Sunday – a sport dominated by songs and banners in tribute to Jota.
After rounding the goalkeeper and slotting residence, the Uruguayan first replicated his former teammate’s Child Shark celebration earlier than sitting down and producing his iconic gamer pose.
Writing on X after the sport, Nunez wrote: “I do know right this moment you celebrated with me like that point.”
Together with images of his two celebrations at Deepdale, Nunez shared Jota’s from the 4-3 victory over Tottenham in 2023.
Again then, Jota was joined by Nunez in marking his last-minute winner at Anfield, because the No. 20 paid homage to his love of gaming.
It’s clear that dropping a teammate has affected Liverpool’s No. 9 deeply, having been visibly emotional at each his funeral and when laying flowers on the memorial website at Anfield this week.
The hope is that the journey to Deepdale can start the method of working in direction of normality for individuals who known as Jota a pal.
That can clearly not be a linear journey, with grief impacting everybody in several methods, however talking earlier than the sport, Arne Slot defined his strategy to working the squad by means of their ache and again into soccer.
“Nothing appears to be essential if we consider what has occurred,” the top coach informed the membership’s official web site.
“However we’re a soccer membership and we have to practice and we have to play once more, if we would like it or not.
“What I’ve stated to the gamers, I can say it right here as effectively. It’s very tough to seek out the correct phrases as a result of we always debate what is acceptable.
“What is acceptable in our actions? What is acceptable (for) what we’ve to say? Can we practice once more? Can we snicker once more? Can we be indignant if there’s a incorrect choice?
“And I’ve stated to them, possibly the most effective factor for us to do is deal with this case like Jota was.
“And what I meant with that’s that Jota was all the time himself, it didn’t matter if he was speaking to me, to his teammates, to the workers, he was all the time himself.
“So allow us to attempt to be ourselves as effectively.”
