Why one Jota tribute has captured the hearts of Liverpool supporters | OneFootball

‘Just bring Jota on’ tribute captures hearts of Liverpool supporters

Framed message speaks volumes

Among the sea of red at Anfield, one tribute stood out like a last-minute winner in front of the Kop. Olivia Hayes, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, left a framed message among the flowers, scarves and shirts, one that cut through the grief and landed deep in the heart of supporters.

‘How many times did we say just bring Jota on? Forever our number 20.’

Photo LFC

It was more than a slogan. It was a rallying cry from the stands, a phrase muttered in pubs, whispered in living rooms, roared across stadiums when Liverpool needed a goal and faith was flickering. On LFCTV’s tribute to Diogo Jota, which aired Monday night, Olivia spoke with a poignancy that reflected a city in mourning.

“I think the loss that we’re feeling as fans is nowhere near comparable to how his family and friends must be feeling,” she said. “But in the conversations I’ve had with family and friends over the last few days, it does feel like a big loss to the Liverpool community.”

Moments that defined a No.20

In the tapestry of Jota’s Liverpool career, the recurring thread was his ability to change the game from the bench. He was the man with a sixth sense for goals, the one supporters turned to when urgency overtook patience.

“We’ve all been sat there willing him to come on,” Olivia recalled, “saying ‘Just bring Jota on’. He would bring that magic to the game and turn it around.”

Supporters will remember Forest away, January 2024. Thirty seconds after coming on, Jota found the net. At Ibrox in 2022, he didn’t score but provided a hat-trick of assists after entering from the sidelines. Against Arsenal in 2020, his first Liverpool goal arrived eight minutes after he was brought on. And who could forget the 4-3 win over Tottenham? A stoppage-time winner in a chaotic, breathless finish.

Photo IMAGO

Legacy of hope and heartbreak

Jota didn’t need ninety minutes to make a difference. He only needed a moment. That’s why Olivia’s words resonate. It wasn’t just about what he did with the ball. It was what he represented, hope, unpredictability, impact.

Whether under Jurgen Klopp or Arne Slot, there was always that belief: he might not start, but he’d finish the job.

Supporters united in grief

Now, as Liverpool prepare for pre-season at the AXA Training Centre, the emptiness will be palpable. The dressing room will feel different. The pitch will echo a little louder. The smile, the sharpness, the goals, all gone too soon.

There’s little comfort to offer in moments like these. But tributes like Olivia’s remind us why football matters, why players like Jota matter, and how supporters hold on to moments long after the final whistle.