Premier League to honor late Liverpool star Diogo Jota in all Matchday 1 fixtures this weekend
The Premier League will begin the 2025–26 season this weekend, and each Matchday 1 fixture will feature a special moment dedicated to remembering former Liverpool star Diogo Jota.
On July 3, Diogo Jota and his brother, fellow soccer player Andre Silva, died in a tragic car accident while traveling in Spain ahead of Liverpool’s return to preseason training. Since then, many clubs and athletes have shared messages of respect for the former striker—and now the Premier League will join in paying tribute.
“A moment of silence in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva will be held at all Premier League matches this weekend,” the BBC reported Tuesday. “Players will also wear black armbands, while messages and images will be shown on the big screens in stadiums.”
Naturally, the most emotional moments will take place during two specific fixtures—those involving the Premier League clubs Jota represented during his career. “Liverpool and Wolves both have tributes planned for their Premier League openers against Bournemouth and Manchester City respectively this weekend,” the BBC added.
Liverpool already honored Diogo Jota
While the Premier League has yet to officially start, the 2025–26 season in England kicked off this past Sunday when Liverpool and Crystal Palace met in the Community Shield, the annual match between the Premier League and FA Cup winners.
Beyond the 2–2 draw and Crystal Palace’s penalty shootout win, one of the standout moments of the day was the Reds’ tribute to Jota. Liverpool legend Ian Rush, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, and FA chair Debbie Hewitt carried wreaths onto the pitch as fans sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” ahead of kickoff.
Premier League Matchday 1 schedule
While the tributes to Diogo Jota will be centered at Anfield Road and Molineux Stadium, they will extend to all fixtures scheduled for Matchday 1 of the Premier League. Here is the full list of matches:
Friday, August 15:
• Liverpool vs. Bournemouth
Saturday, August 16:
• Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United
• Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Fulham
• Sunderland vs. West Ham United
• Tottenham Hotspur vs. Burnley
• Wolverhampton vs. Manchester City
Sunday, August 17:
• Nottingham Forest vs. Brentford
• Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace
• Manchester United vs. Arsenal
Monday, August 18:
• Leeds United vs. Everton