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Manchester United fans will join hands with Liverpool supporters to hold a minute’s applause tribute to the late footballer Diogo Jota ahead of Sunday’s home fixture against the Reds.
Manchester United will host their fiercest rival Liverpool at Old Trafford in this round of the Premier League. This fixture remains the biggest derby in English football, always accompanied by intense rivalry. However, Manchester United fans are being called on to set aside hostilities temporarily this Sunday, joining Liverpool’s away supporters in applauding Diogo Jota at the 20th minute — honouring the shirt number he once wore.
Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva died in a car accident in Spain last July, as they were driving to catch a ferry back to Liverpool for pre-season training. Manchester United fans have launched this tribute initiative as a way to repay Liverpool supporters’ heartfelt gesture towards Cristiano Ronaldo in 2022. Back then, Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodríguez sadly lost one of their newborn twins. Liverpool fans stood and applauded Ronaldo at Anfield in a touching show of respect. Following Jota’s passing, a Manchester United fan proposed a round of applause at the 20th minute of Sunday’s derby as a reciprocal gesture.
The proposal has been submitted to the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust. It is understood several Manchester United players have also been made aware of the plan. Manchester United’s club hierarchy has been informed of the idea and stated that any such tribute should be fan-led rather than an official club directive. The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust is encouraging fans to share the proposal and gauge support across fan groups, as gestures of this kind carry the greatest impact when emerging spontaneously from the fanbase.
That was exactly the case in 2022, when Manchester United travelled to Liverpool just 24 hours after Cristiano Ronaldo announced the death of his newborn son. Ronaldo missed the match to stay with his family. Despite his absence, Liverpool fans sang their anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone at the 7th minute — Ronaldo’s iconic shirt number. A Manchester United jersey printed with Ronaldo’s name and number was also held up in the away stands. Renowned commentator Martin Taylor said emotionally: “We can talk about this rivalry, at times the fiercest in English football, but here everyone is united in offering condolences.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate and fellow pundit Gary Neville echoed the sentiment, saying: “It was immense sportsmanship from Liverpool.” Players from both sides also wore black armbands as a mark of respect. Ronaldo expressed his sincere gratitude for the gesture on Instagram, writing: “One world… one sport… one global family… Thank you Anfield. My family and I will never forget this moment of respect and compassion.”