LFC TV to Air Hour-Long Tribute for Diogo Jota

LFC TV returns to screens on Monday evening with an emotional special dedicated to Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident on 3 July. The one-hour programme, titled “Remembering Diogo: Our Number 20,” will be the club channel’s first live output since production was suspended in the immediate aftermath of the disaster that also claimed the life of Jota’s brother, André Silva. Fans around the world can watch the show from 7 p.m. BST on the club’s website, mobile app and Sky channel 425.

LFC TV pauses regular programming after tragic loss

The sudden death of the 27-year-old forward sent shockwaves through Liverpool Football Club and the wider football community. Within hours of the accident in northern Portugal, LFC TV executives halted all pre-season features, academy highlights and archived match reruns as a mark of respect. Tributes flooded social media from current and former team-mates, with captain Virgil van Dijk describing Jota as “the heartbeat of our pressing game and one of the kindest souls off the pitch.” Club CEO Billy Hogan added in an internal memo that the station’s silence was intended to “allow staff, supporters and the Jota family space to grieve.”

During the 10-day blackout, the club’s digital platforms turned monochrome and carried only a single photograph of Jota lifting the 2022 FA Cup, accompanied by the words “Forever 20.” Supporter groups erected makeshift shrines outside Anfield’s Shankly Gates, while Portuguese side Paços de Ferreira, where Jota began his career, held a candle-lit vigil at their Estádio da Mata Real.

Inside the hour-long Diogo Jota tribute

Producers at LFC TV have crafted Monday’s programme to celebrate Jota’s life rather than linger on the circumstances of his passing. The broadcast opens with a montage of his 42 goals in a red shirt—set to a piano rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”—before host Peter McDowall welcomes special guests Jürgen Klopp, Pep Lijnders and former Wolves strike partner Raúl Jiménez via video link.

Key segments include:

• Family Reflections: Exclusive interviews with Jota’s parents and his wife, Rute Cardoso, recorded at their home near Porto last week.
• “Number 20 Forever”: A behind-the-scenes look at the mural currently being painted on the Main Stand concourse.
• Academy Inspiration: Footage of Liverpool Under-18 forwards wearing black armbands and recreating Jota’s trademark goal celebration during recent training.
• Teammate Tributes: Personal video messages from Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The show will close with a live performance by local singer Jamie Webster, who will debut a new acoustic track simply titled “Diogo.” A minute’s silence will follow, with viewers encouraged to share candle-lit photos on social media using the hashtag #RememberingDiogo.

Club, fans and team-mates unite in grief

Although Liverpool supporters are renowned for their unity, the collective mourning has been particularly poignant. Within 48 hours of the accident, an online fund in Jota’s name had raised over £650,000 for road-safety charities in Portugal and Merseyside. Club chaplain Bill Bygroves has been in daily contact with the first-team squad, who returned to pre-season training on Friday. He revealed to LFC TV that “the lads wanted to come back together early—not for fitness testing, but to take comfort in each other.”

Local schools have also contributed to the tributes. Children at St Paul’s Primary in West Derby produced a 30-metre banner spelling out “Obrigado, Diogo,” which will be displayed along the Kop railings for the first home match of the new campaign. Meanwhile, Mayor Steve Rotheram confirmed that Liverpool City Council is exploring plans to rename a section of Walton Lane after the player.

LFC TV at the heart of healing

Monday’s special marks not just a return to broadcasting but the beginning of a broader memorial project that LFC TV will carry into the new season. Senior producer Lisa Burrows told the club website that the channel will weave short “Jota Moments” into every match-day build-up, highlighting decisive goals such as his last-minute header against Leicester in 2022 and his four-goal masterclass at Molineux earlier in his career.

Beyond televised content, LFC TV crews will accompany the first team on their United States pre-season tour later this month. Plans include a pop-up exhibition in New York featuring Jota’s signed boots, Portuguese youth shirts and his beloved gaming headset—acknowledging his reputation as the squad’s unofficial FIFA tournament champion.

What comes next for LFC TV and supporters

The channel’s editorial calendar has been reshaped. A new six-part documentary series, “Legacy 20,” will trace Jota’s journey from the streets of Massarelos to Anfield glory, scheduled to premiere in late August. LFC TV will also host live Q&A sessions with sports psychologists and grief counsellors, offering fans coping strategies ahead of an emotionally charged Premier League opener against Sheffield United.

Importantly, the club has confirmed that Jota’s squad number will be retired for the forthcoming season, ensuring that “20” remains synonymous with his memory. Shirts bearing his name will stay on sale, with all profits donated to the family’s chosen charities.

LFC TV special kicks off emotional pre-season coverage

While Monday’s tribute is the centrepiece, regular programming will gradually resume over the week. Tuesday features a tactical deep-dive into Klopp’s revamped midfield, while Wednesday revisits classic meetings with Preston North End—Liverpool’s first friendly opponents on 13 July. Each show will carry a brief trigger warning at the start and a list of bereavement helplines at the end, underscoring the club’s commitment to supporter welfare.

Technical teams have upgraded captioning and audio-description services to ensure accessibility, a move applauded by Spirit of Shankly representatives. “Jota was for everyone, so the coverage honouring him should be too,” spokesperson Jay McKenna said.

Global broadcasters join LFC TV in honouring Diogo Jota

Sky Sports News and TNT Sports have both agreed to simulcast sections of Monday’s programme, extending its reach far beyond the club’s subscription base. In Portugal, public channel RTP 1 will show the full hour at 9 p.m. local time, preceded by a studio discussion on road safety reforms. MLS franchise Austin FC, home to many Portuguese expatriates, will screen the tribute on the jumbotron prior to their match against LA Galaxy.

This unprecedented collaboration underlines Jota’s influence across leagues and continents. As former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers remarked, “Diogo played like he was plugged directly into the Kop’s electricity. That spark transcends borders.”

Opinion: A fitting use of LFC TV’s platform

Football media often chases drama, but in moments like this, its greatest value is communal healing. By devoting prime airtime to reflection rather than transfer gossip, LFC TV reminds us that clubs are built on human stories first and results second. Jota’s fearless pressing and clinical finishing will live on in highlight reels, yet it is the compassion shown by Liverpool’s global family that will define his legacy.