Arne Slot says he "would have loved" to have brought on Diogo Jota in a heartbreaking admission following Liverpool's dramatic 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Friday.
Liverpool beat Bournemouth in season openerSlot wishes he could have subbed on JotaFans pay emotional tribute to late strikerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Reds found themselves in search of a late winner after their two-goal lead was wiped out by a second-half double from Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo on the opening night of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
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In Liverpool's moment of need, Slot turned to Federico Chiesa and the Italy international repaid the faith, putting his side 3-2 ahead before Mohamed Salah added a fourth to seal all three points for the Anfield club. However, Slot admitted after the match that he wished he could have brought on Jota, 28, who tragically died alongside his brother Andre Silva, 25, in a car crash in Spain in July.
WHAT SLOT SAID
In an emotional post-match interview, Slot said: "Normally at 2-2 everyone knows which player I look to at that moment in time. I would have loved to bring in Diogo Jota, but I could not for terrible reasons. But tonight the fans and the players did what he did for us many times in the past."
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Powerful tributes were paid before, during and after the match to Jota, whose family were in attendance at Anfield. Liverpool supporters in both the Kop and the Sir Kenny Dalglish stands formed mosaics which read 'DJ20' and 'AS30', while talisman Salah was moved to tears as he joined in a rendition of Jota's chant.
