SHOCK ...AND GRIEF

Liverpool forward's funeral today

- PATRICK HILL

JORDAN Henderson wept yesterday while paying tribute to former teammate Diogo Jota.

The England midfielder, 35, laid flowers and a Liverpool FC scarf in memory of the newlywed star, who tragically died in a car crash alongside his younger brother on Thursday.

He left a note at Anfield that read: "Rest in peace my friend, along with your brother Andre. We will all miss you. Love Hendo + family." The gesture came ahead of the Portuguese dad-ofthree's funeral, which will be held in his hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, at 10am this morning.

Jota's wife Rute, who wed him less than two weeks ago after 13 years together, was yesterday joined by relatives including her mother inside Gondomar's chapel of resurrection.

The building, just yards from Gondomar's main church, where Jota's funeral will be held, was closed to the public from 8am until 4pm, with only close family and invited guests allowed in.

They included Portugal's president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the country's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, football super-agent Jorge Mendes, who represented Jota, and former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas.

The chapel later opened up to the public from 4pm to 8pm, prompting a constant queue of mourners, including Liverpool FC chief executive Billy Hogan and former Kop players Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara.

Many carried single white roses and some held giant floral wreaths, while others wore football shirts with Jota's name on the back.