Diogo Jota's chant 'will be heard forever more'

The love that Liverpool fans had for Diogo Jota was reflected in the popularity of the song they wrote in his honour.

The 28-year-old Portugal international adored hearing it whenever it was chanted by supporters at Anfield or further afield.

Reds fans say the song - set to the tune of the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit Bad Moon Rising - will take on a deep poignancy after the death on Thursday of Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in Spain.

Musician and "massive Red" Mark Phillip took his guitar to Anfield on Thursday and led fans in an emotional rendition of Jota's song.

He told BBC Radio Merseyside: "If I've got one defining moment of Diogo Jota, it was when he scored that final-minute winning goal against Spurs [in a 4-3 victory at Anfield in April 2023].

"I was at that game and we sung that song for about 20 minutes in the Kop."

Mark Phillip said he hoped Diogo Jota's family would see footage of Liverpool fans singing his name

Mr Phillip said: "He's just got married. It's so sad, such a spectacular waste of life.

"I hope his family see the fact that all the Liverpool fans are singing his song."

Thousands of people continued to make the journey to Anfield on Friday, where a few bunches of flowers and memorabilia laid the previous morning had become a sea of tributes opposite the club's Hillsborough memorial.

Former Liverpool councillor, Peter Millea, who follows the Reds home and away, reckons Jota's song will be heard at games "forever more".

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was visibly emotional as he laid a floral tribute to Diogo Jota

"It's one of those songs that was sung even when he wasn't on the pitch, even if he wasn't playing," he explained.

"Sometimes he'd been out for a couple of weeks injured, but they still sang that song.

"It resonates with Liverpool fans.

"There was something about him as a player when he first came to us that he became an instant hit.

"He was one of those players you can easily take to because of the manner in which he conducted himself on and off the pitch and the important goals that he scored."

Everton striker Beto laid a wreath along clubmate Youssef Chermiti and former player Ian Snodin

Jordan Henderson, who was Liverpool captain when Jota signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, was in tears when he laid flowers in memory of his friend and team-mate.

The family of current squad member Harvey Elliot also left a bouquet of flowers, while Everton strikers Beto and Youssef Chermiti attended with club legend Ian Snodin to pay their respects.

Meanwhile Liverpool FC officials have opened three books of condolences to allow people to pay their respects and share their feelings privately.