Trent Alexander-Arnold Finds Closure at Anfield After Diogo Jota's Death

Trent Alexander-Arnold has described his return to Anfield with Real Madrid as the moment he finally found “closure” after the death of former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota.

Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in Spain in July 2025. Alexander-Arnold was thousands of miles away at the time, in the United States for the Club World Cup, trying to process the news alone while Liverpool grieved together back home.

“I think that's what was difficult… going through it on your own,” he told the Sunday Mirror. “Everybody else who had known him for that amount of time were all grouped together.

“It was difficult, and then having to continue to play games and them being so far away was hard. But coming back to Anfield and being able to go to the stadium and put some flowers down really helped me get that closure.”

A bond forged in rehab and competition

Alexander-Arnold and Jota shared five seasons at Liverpool before the England right-back made his move to Real Madrid in 2025. Their relationship was not just about matches and medals; it was built in the quieter, harder moments behind the scenes.

“I was injured a couple of times when he was and we were doing our training to get back fit together, and we were both very competitive,” Alexander-Arnold recalled.

“We would always, you know, have different competitions between ourselves. Those are the kind of memories that I’ll hold close to me.”

The memories are simple but sharp. Two senior pros driving each other through the monotony of rehab, turning sprints and strength work into contests, refusing to let standards drop. That edge, Alexander-Arnold suggests, summed Jota up.

“He was just a really good guy. Like he was very honest. That’s one of the best attributes that anybody can have. He was hardworking. He loved what he did, and was a massive family man.”

‘Forever 20’ at Anfield

Liverpool have made sure Jota’s legacy is not confined to old clips and fading tributes.

On the eve of the first anniversary of the crash, the club unveiled a permanent memorial at Anfield to Jota and his brother. The sculpture, titled Forever 20 in reference to the forward’s shirt number, was created by renowned sculptor Emma Rodgers.

At its centre sits a flowing heart, a direct nod to Jota’s trademark goal celebration. It stands as a focal point for supporters and former teammates alike, a physical space to channel a loss that still feels raw.

“‘Forever 20’ will serve as a permanent symbol of love, unity and remembrance, and a place where everyone can reflect, remember and pay their respects,” read a Liverpool statement.

For Alexander-Arnold, now in white rather than red, that walk back into Anfield and the chance to lay flowers beneath Jota’s memorial did more than stir old emotions. It closed a circle that began on a distant training pitch in the US, when grief had to be handled alone.