'Forever number 20' – Alexander-Arnold pays tribute to Diogo Jota

Trent Alexander-Arnold said the number 20 shirt at Liverpool would be forever immortalised following the sad passing of former team-mate Diogo Jota. 

Alexander-Arnold, who spent five seasons playing with Jota at Anfield, posted an emotional message on social media in the wake of the devastating news. 

Jota, who made 182 appearances for Liverpool after joining the Reds from Wolves in September 2020, was killed in a car crash in Spain shortly after midnight local time on Thursday. 

The crash, which took place in the Spanish province of Zamora, also killed his brother Andre Silva, who was also a professional footballer. 

Alexander-Arnold, who recently completed a switch to Real Madrid, won four major honours alongside Jota, which included last season's Premier League title success. 

The England international is away with his new team at the Club World Cup, with Xabi Alonso's side holding a moment of silence before training on Thursday. 

"It's so difficult to find the right words when your head and heart are struggling to accept that someone you care so much about has gone," Alexander-Arnold wrote on social media.

"Diogo, your family was your world. They were everything. For Rute, his children, and his parents, all of our hearts are broken. And for Andre as well. Brothers and best friends.

"When it's less painful, I want to remember Diogo with a big smile. So many laughs and happy moments. He was such a great team-mate and a true friend.

"Forever number 20. Rest in peace, Diogo."

In an earlier tribute, Liverpool said: "The No.20 will be rightly immortalised for his contributions as part of Liverpool's 2024-25 title-winners – the club's 20th – with his trademark shimmy and strike in front of the Kop to seal victory in April’s Merseyside derby a poignant last goal of his life."

Andy Robertson also shared an emotional message about his friendship with Jota during their time on Merseyside.

During that time, the Scottish left-back and Jota forged a relationship which transcended the Anfield pitch.

"The ones I'm thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear," Robertson said in a post on Instagram.

"I'm so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls – Diogo and Andre. For the team and the club, we'll try to cope with this together… however long that takes.

"For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy. I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now.

"It's the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real. Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun.

"He was the most British foreign player I've ever met. We used to joke he was really Irish… I'd try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota.

"We'd watch the darts together, enjoy the horse racing. Going to Cheltenham this season was a highlight - one of the best we had.

"The last time I saw him was the happiest day of his life – his wedding day. I want to remember his never-ceasing smile from that magical day. How much he was bursting with love for his wife and family.

"I can't believe we're saying goodbye. It's too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better. Love you, Diogo."