Liverpool and Palace’s emotional tribute to Diogo Jota cut short after shouts from crowd before Community Shield

By Martin Lipton

THEY came to honour, to remember, to sing in praise.

But first, they bowed their heads.

A Wembley walk that was about paying tribute to someone they can never see again, rather than a parade of celebration.

Ian Rush, of course, in the middle, an Anfield legend.

Flanked by FA chair Debbie Hewitt and Palace chairman Steve Parrish.

All three to symbolise a game-wide testimonial to Diogo Jota.

A gesture designed to prove football’s commonality of purpose, that sometimes, emotion and fellow-feeling can overcome tribal instincts.

Maybe it can. Maybe it can’t.

Indeed, while the majority of Palace supporters joined in with the applause as the tribute trio made their slow march along the Wembley touchline, red wreaths in their hands, too many of them were unable to repeat that soon afterwards.

It was hard not to feel, too, that Liverpool’s lightning start at Wembley, with Hugo Ekitike making an instant impact, was a response to that disgraceful behaviour during the pre-game “silence” for Jota.

Their cat-calls – and they must have known what was happening – brought a response of loud boos from the other end, forcing referee Chris Kavanagh to blow his whistle and bring the tribute to a premature conclusion.

Arne Slot opted for diplomacy rather than taking an incendiary approach.

He said: “I don’t think this was planned. Maybe the fans weren’t aware there was supposed to be a silence, just wanted to cheer for their team.

“The Palace fans were trying to calm them down but that made noise and then our fans reacted.

“But I don’t think there was any bad intention. Fans of Palace, everywhere around the world, have paid huge respect to Diogo and Andre. 

“And we will see on Friday, when Bournemouth come to our stadium, how respectful that’s going to be.”

Nobody knows what impact the tragedy of Jota’s death, when the Portuguese striker was driving to catch his boat back to the UK just 38 days ago, will have on this Liverpool squad.

Not immediately perhaps – however much they felt the deep personal pain of losing a close friend and team-mate.

But as the reality of his absence grows more profound over the coming weeks and months, it surely will take a toll at some point.

Those banners will be there, waved on The Kop and around Anfield. Carried across the country by the travelling fans.

A permanent reminder of an empty space in the changing room. A shirt bearing the number 20 that will never again be worn by anyone in Liverpool red.

Jota was popular beyond Liverpool, even if it was on Merseyside – as well as his native land – that his passing was mourned deepest.

It was right that the tribute party, slowly and sombrely, turned left out of the Wembley tunnel, walking in front of the LIverpool supporters before laying down those red flowers in line with the right edge of the six yard box.

They stood back, a mark of respect, before lowering their heads, as the songs of praise for the man who will be “forever number 20” were bellowed with a mixture of love and loss.

Fittingly, the Liverpool fans were singing in his name again, in the 20th minute, when Jeremie Frimpong’s mis-hit cross floated over Dean Henderson to put Arne Slot’s side back in front.

His name, his memory, will be repeated throughout the coming campaign, long after the penalty shoot-out is forgotten everywhere except in a small corner of south east London.

Slot and his players want to honour it in the ultimate way. If they do, then an August defeat under the Arch will become meaningless.