Diogo Jota's first and last goals under Arne Slot proved to have extra significance in Liverpool's Premier League title charge.

He kicked off the Dutchman's reign with the Reds' first league goal of last season, putting them on their way to an opening-day 2-0 win at Ipswich.

Latching onto a pass from Mohamed Salah, Jota finished calmly beyond goalkeeper Christian Walton before running off to celebrate with what became a trademark chomping action with his arms.

From August to April, Jota's 65th and final goal for the club proved to be a vital winner, at home to none other than Merseyside rivals Everton on 2 April. And what a goal it was.

He collected a backheel from Luis Diaz before jinking past three Everton defenders and firing brilliant past Jordan Pickford in front of the Kop.

The chant, "Oh he wears the number 20," echoed around Anfield.

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

Fans outside Anfield are comforting one another and sharing stories about Diogo Jota.

The crowd is growing, and families with children are paying their respects.

The grassy area outside the Main Stand is now full of flowers, cards, shirts, photographs, and balloons.

At the front of the tribute area, supporters are standing in a poignant silence.

As we reported a little earlier, BBC Sport has been told that Diogo Jota had undergone minor surgery and doctors had advised him against flying.

As result, the footballer was planning to return to Liverpool for pre-season training, due to begin on Monday, by ferry. To get a ferry to England, it's understood that Jota was heading to the port city of Santander, in northern Spain.

Below is a map that shows Santander in relation to the site of the fatal car crash, which was on the highway near a village in the province Cernadilla (Sanabria).

Image source, PA Media

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was joined by mayor Steve Rotheram in Liverpool today, where both politicians laid flowers and paid their tributes to Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

Speaking to reporters, Rayner says news of the fatal car crash is "really shocking", particularly because Jota got married 10 days ago and has three young children.

"Being here in Liverpool shows the strength of outpouring for sympathy for his wife, for his children and for his friends and family".

Liverpool mayor Rotheram says he couldn't believe the news at first, thinking "it might have been fake because that is the world we live in". But once it was confirmed, his reaction was "absolute devastation".

He recalls that Jota was "one of the fan favourites, and he had a very special song about him".

Asked about how the Portuguese athlete fit into the city, Rotheram says it was about more than the goals.

"Not just scoring goals, but the success he brought to the city cannot be forgotten," the mayor adds.

Cristina García Casado
Reporting from Zamora province

The sub-delegate of the Spanish government in Zamora, Ángel Blanco, has given his first statement about the cause of the accident, which also points to a burst tyre during an overtake as the possible reason.

As a result, Jota's Lamborghini went off the road and started to burn. (An earlier statement from the Guardia Civil gave the same reason).

The accident occurred at around 00:30 hours in Zamora, at kilometre 65 of the A-52 motorway, on a straight stretch in the opposite direction to Portugal.

The brothers' bodies have now been moved from the Institute of Legal Medicine in Zamora. Their relatives, who have travelled from Portugal, left the premises after around two hours in the building.

To confirm legal identification, authorities will try to obtain fingerprints and DNA tests, which will have to be sent to Madrid for analysis.

Meanwhile, the regional government of Castilla y León set up teams, early in the morning, to provide psychological assistance to the family, followed by information services in Portuguese and English.

This is an extraordinary situation for this rural region in the so-called "Empty Spain".

Former Liverpool player and manager Sir Kenny Dalglish on X:

"Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.

"Thinking and praying for all their loved ones after the devastating loss of both Diogo and Andre. YNWA."

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

BBC Sport has been told that Jota had undergone minor surgery so doctors had advised against flying.

As result, he was planning to return to Liverpool for pre-season training, due to begin on Monday, by ferry.

This is understood to involve him travelling by car from Porto to get a ferry from Santander in northern Spain.

Zamora, close to the Portuguese border, is around 190 miles from Porto, and a similar distance from the port.

It is understood Jota had completed the journey in reverse to get to Porto for his wedding.

Jonny Humphries

Image source, Marc Gaier/BBC

Lifelong Liverpool fan and Hillsborough survivor John Barlow dropped everything to drive to Anfield stadium when he heard the news of Diogo Jota's death.

"He had a bit of something about him, like a proper old Liverpool player, like the players we were brought up with", Mr Barlow said.

"He had a fight in him and he came back from things and he was tough.

"I'm a Hillsborough survivor, so there's always a bit of sadness, we've been through things like this before but I'm just heartbroken, absolutely heartbroken."

Tributes have been pouring in from across the world after Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, died in a car crash in Spain. Here's what we know so far:

• At around 00:30 local time (23:30 BST), the Lamborghini the brothers were in crashed due to a tyre blowout while overtaking another car, Spain's Guardia Civil says
• The car then set on fire - images from the crash site show burned grass by the road
• It comes less than two weeks after Jota's wedding to his long-term partner, and mother to his three children, Rute Cardoso
• The brothers' family have arrived in the area, where DNA tests will identify the bodies, writes Cristina García Casado from Zamora
• Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo said the news "doesn't make sense", with a number of other team-mates also reacting to the news
• In Liverpool, fans have gathered outside Anfield, while former manager Jurgen Klopp said he was heartbroken

Yasmin Malik and Srosh Khan
BBC Newsbeat

Image source, Getty Images

Diogo Jota joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017 on loan and helped them to achieve promotion to the Premier League, before making a permanent move a year later.

He stayed at the club for two more years before he headed to Liverpool.

BBC Newsbeat spoke to Wolves fans in the city centre to get their reaction to the news.

Charlotte, 21, said: "I’m absolutely devastated, he was one of my favourite players when he played for us.

"I’ll never forget that winning goal against Leicester, hopefully they do a tribute here."

Fellow fan Ben said Jota "stood out" during his time at the club.

"I will miss his skills and smile," he said. "Portugal and Liverpool have lost a legend, we will miss him."

Image source, Getty Images

The Prince and Princess of Wales are the latest to offer their condolences following the news of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva's death.

In a statement shared on X, the couple wrote: "As part of the footballing family, I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother."

The royals add that their thoughts are with Jota's family, friends and all who knew him at Liverpool FC and Wolves - both clubs in England that Jota played for.

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, now a football pundit, has been speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live about Diogo Jota:

"You saw the smile on his face when he played. He was always that bubbly character, but he was also a fiery person as well, on the pitch. He had that lovely balance.

"He was always happy to give up his time [when giving interviews for radio and TV], more than gracious when he spoke to people, very respectful but also a very charismatic character - around the training ground and also around the stadium as well.

"I don't think you become a fans' favourite without being that type of person - he was so likeable."

Warnock also said he lived near Jota and would see him in and around his neighbourhood.

"You would always see him engaging with people and fans. From that side of things he was just a lovely person."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

We're now hearing from Penafiel FC, the Portuguese club André Silva played for.

"The loss of two such young lives," the club writes, "fills us with pain and dismay."

The club expresses their condolences to the brothers' family, friends and team-mates, and says it will declare official mourning and pay tribute to them at upcoming events.

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter

For me, Diogo Jota was a player who made things happen.

He was always a dangerous player. He could play out wide, he could lead the line, he could play a little bit deeper.

He was an exciting forward with an eye for goal.

I wouldn't say he was prolific, but he was tireless.

He had a high work ethic and for that he was extremely popular, both with his team-mates and also with the supporters, who adored him.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva died in a car crash around 00:30 (23:30 BST) in the Spanish province of Zamora.

We can now bring you this map where you can see, in yellow, the road where the accident happened.

The location is close to the Spanish border with Portugal, where the two brothers are from.

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

Hundreds of Liverpool supporters have now laid tributes to Diogo Jota outside Anfield's main stand.

Some are in groups and supporting one another. Many have come alone.

Most of them are standing in a kind of daze - scarcely able to believe the tragedy that has befallen one of their heroes.

Many fans in Everton shirts are also coming along to pay their respects.

There remains a stunned grief here, for somebody these fans may not have known personally, but who they truly loved.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to the man he brought to the Reds from Wolves in 2020.

In a statement on Instagram, Klopp says: "This is a moment where I struggle!

"There must be a bigger purpose, but I can't see it!

"I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre.

"Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father.

"We will miss you so much.

"All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace - Love J."

Diogo Jota married his long-term partner, Rute, last month, and shared footage online with the caption: "A day we will never forget."

The video - which shows clips before, during, and after the ceremony - was jointly posted by Jota and his wife on Instagram yesterday.

The couple, who had three children, also shared photos of their wedding last month.

Image source, Getty Images

International team-mates of Diogo Jota have been reacting to the news of his passing on social media.

It's less than a month since Portugal won the Uefa Nations League in the final against Spain, with Jota playing in that match.

Manchester United and Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes led the tributes via his Instagram story: "Friend, colleague and companion of a thousand battles. It's hard to understand how someone can leave so soon.

"May you and your brother find the peace you need to watch over your loved ones who lost you too soon and suddenly.

"My condolences to all your family."

Midfielder Ruben Neves: “They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you."

Winger Rafael Leao: "Rest in peace brother."

Defender Diogo Dalot: “Devastating.. Speechless.. Much strength to the family.”

Midfielder Pedro Goncalves: "My deepest condolences to the family."

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa: "There are no words, rest in peace."

Defender Renato Veiga: "No words. Rest in peace."

Defender Danilo: "There is no suffering on earth that heaven cannot cure."

Cristina García Casado
Reporting from Zamora province

Zamora, a town and province in north-western Spain, woke up today in shock to the news of the traffic accident involving Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother André.

A province not accustomed to making headlines is now featured in the national and international press as the scene of an extraordinarily sad event.

The victims' relatives have already arrived at the city's forensic morgue, where DNA tests will be carried out to identify the bodies.

The accident occurred near a village in the province, Cernadilla (Sanabria), with only a hundred inhabitants, whose normal life has been disrupted by this tragedy as television crews from around the world have descended on the village.

The reason why the two football players were travelling on the province's roads is not yet known, a question that people in Zamora are asking themselves today in cafes and workplaces.

It is a place close to the border with Portugal, which is the country of origin of both players and where the younger of the two played.