'I didn't prepare myself for that' - Mohamed Salah caught off guard by Liverpool fans during tearful tribute to Diogo Jota

Liverpool overcame Bournemouth 4-2 in their season opener, yet the result paled in comparison to the scenes that unfolded at the final whistle when Mohamed Salah, usually the picture of composure, broke down in front of the Kop. The club and its supporters were still reeling from the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, and their passing cast a painful shadow over Anfield.

Salah broke down during Kop tribute
Liverpool star recalled Jota heartbreak
Used former team-mate's celebration

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WHAT HAPPENED?
Salah himself scored Liverpool’s fourth and capped the moment with a poignant nod to his late teammate by copying Jota’s signature 'Baby Shark' celebration. While the gesture drew applause, it was what followed that truly moved the stadium.

AFP
THE BIGGER PICTURE
As Salah approached the Kop end to perform his usual post-match routine of thanking the fans, the supporters began chanting Jota’s name. That was when the Egyptian could no longer hold his emotions in check.
WHAT SALAH SAID
Speaking to the Men In Blazers media network, Salah admitted he was completely unprepared for the emotional wave that overwhelmed him.
"It was quite tricky for me because I didn't prepare myself for that," said Salah. "Usually I clap for the fans after the game to tell them, like, thank you for coming for the game. But then once I stood in front of the Kop, they were singing for Diogo.
"Then my emotions came and in my mind (I was thinking about him). Then you just to handle it. But then you can see, many people in a Kop also are like showing their emotions or what they feel. So then you start to break down a little bit."