'He's an honorary scouser' Fans of rival clubs unite in grief outside Anfield

Outside Anfield, where Diogo Jota's name recently soared from the stands, fans stood in a sombre, stricken silence.

- Josh Halliday

Barely five weeks ago they had watched their Portuguese hero lift the Premier League trophy, singing and dancing with his soon-to-be wife, their two sons, aged four and two, and their six-month-old daughter.

Now, in a tragedy that puts the fleeting glories of football into shocking perspective, fans were laying floral tributes.

"It's just devastating," said Gary Mann, 48, a season ticket holder, as he struggled to contain his emotions. "He's a 28-year-old kid. He just always came across as a really nice human being - and that's the worst part of it. It's tremendously sad for his family."

Men, women and children were in tears as they hung scarves from trees and laid football shirts alongside an ever-growing bank of flowers outside Liverpool's main stand in the hours after Jota's death was announced yesterday morning. Balloons bearing the number 20 - Jota's shirt number - were among the tributes, with some fans asking the club to retire it in his memory.