Liverpool’s summer signings Milos Kerkez and Amin Pecsi have made their first appearances outside Anfield under tragic circumstances, paying heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota, who was tragically killed in a road accident earlier this month.
The Portuguese forward, aged 28, lost his life alongside his younger brother André Silva, 25, after a fatal crash in the Zamora region of northwest Spain. The pair were travelling in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, en-route to catch a ferry back to England ahead of Liverpool’s 2025–26 pre-season return. The accident occurred after their vehicle suffered a tyre blowout and veered off the road.
The devastating news sent shockwaves through the football world, and left the Liverpool squad and fanbase in mourning. Jota and his brother were laid to rest this past Saturday in their hometown of Gondomar, Portugal, at a funeral service attended by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, head coach Arne Slot, and a large portion of the first-team squad and former players.
Following a short delay to allow players and staff to grieve, Arne Slot men returned to the AXA Training Centre on July 8 for the start of pre-season preparations, but the grief continues to be felt deeply and tributes outside Anfield have only grown.
Among the latest to visit the memorial outside the stadium were new summer signing Milos Kerkez, who recently joined from Bournemouth in a £40 million deal, and fellow Hungarian, goalkeeper Amin Pecsi, signed for a reported £1.5 million. Both players joined by Liverpool midfielder and compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai, who laid flowers at the growing sea of tributes surrounding the Main Stand outside Anfield.
It was a powerful and poignant moment for the new arrivals two players who could have become Jota’s teammates but unforeseen circumstances took over that.
Also spotted at Anfield was former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, who made a quiet visit to the memorial earlier in the afternoon. Though Lallana never played alongside Jota during his time at the club, his gesture of respect did not go unnoticed by supporters.
One supporter showed their appreciation on social media.
Not once did Adam Lallana play with Diogo Jota and yet here he is still at Anfield paying tribute.
A club legend forever. ?? https://t.co/tV3aYBSmrK
— ?? (@VintageWirtz) July 10, 2025
The memorial outside Anfield continues to become a space for fans, friends, former teammates, and members of the public to gather, grieve, and honour their number 20’s legacy. Thousands of messages, scarves, shirts, and flowers now a show of collective heartbreak and solidarity.
As Liverpool prepares for a new season under Arne Slot and the first pre season game scheduled to go ahead as planned, their first match after the 28-year-old’s passing, Jota’s memory will continue to unite the Liverpool family from fresh signings to former legends and remains firmly rooted in the hearts of everyone at Anfield.
