Diogo Jota reacts after missing a chance when playing for Wolves. Photo: photosport
Diogo Jota's two sons will join the mascots at Anfield when Liverpool face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Sunday morning, the club has confirmed.
Portuguese forward Jota, who played for both English Premier League clubs, died in a car crash alongside his younger brother in July in northwestern Spain. He was 28.
Jota joined Wolves on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2017 and made a permanent move to the club the following year.
He then signed a five-year deal in 2020 with Liverpool, where he won the league title earlier this year.
Saturday's match marks the first time Liverpool and Wolves have met since Jota's death.
Jota's wife Rute Cardoso and her two sons, Dinis and Duarte, were present for the Premier League home openers for both Liverpool and Wolves in August.
Liverpool also permanently retired his jersey number 20 following his death.
Slot hails Ekitike
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Arne Slot has hailed the transformation of Hugo Ekitike from backup striker to goal machine as the France international spearheads the club's climb back up the table.
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot Photo: AFP
The reigning champions endured a nightmare slump, losing nine of 12 games across all competitions, but have clawed their way to fifth place with Ekitike leading the revival with eight league goals - including five in his last three games.
The 23-year-old's summer arrival was overshadowed by the record signing of Alexander Isak. But with the Swedish striker sidelined for two months with a leg break and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Ekitike has become indispensable.
"He showed a lot of hard work to get to this fitness level where he is at the moment," Slot said ahead of the match against Wolves.
"It sometimes took us - me - a bit of convincing that this all is actually needed to become stronger but he always did it, not always with a smile on his face but he has worked really hard to get fitter - on and off the pitch."
Slot revealed it took considerable persuasion to get his striker to embrace defensive duties, particularly at set-pieces.
Liverpool's set-piece struggles are stark as they have shipped 11 goals while scoring just three at the other end.
- Reuters
