Trent Alexander-Arnold felt Diogo Jota was ‘there with him’ as he played in Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund at the Club World Cup.
The England international played alongside Jota for five years at Liverpool, before leaving for the Spanish giants earlier this summer.
Jota and his brother Andre Silva tragically passed away in a car accident this week, in news that rocked the entire football world.
The 28-year-old married his long-term partner just a few days earlier and leaves behind three young children in what are incredibly heart-breaking circumstances.
Alexander-Arnold was still feeling the pain of losing his friend as Real Madrid faced Dortmund in New Jersey, but felt his former teammate was there with him as he provided an assist on the way to a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup.
‘I had to try to perform for the team and help them win the game, no matter how difficult it was,’ Alexander-Arnold told DAZN.
‘As hard as it was to do it, I had to push myself to focus on what my job and role was. I tried to do it as best as I could, but it was difficult and I am not going to lie about that.
‘[Jota] was one of my close friends – and I am sure that’s what he would have wanted me to do. I’m sure we would have had a laugh and joke about the assist as well. He was there with me, I am sure.’
He added: ‘I shared the dressing room with him for five years – amazing memories on and off the pitch.
‘It goes without saying he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and the player he was.
‘I’ve been around him, his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his amazing parents and his amazing children. It’s truly, truly heart-breaking to wake up to news like that.
‘It’s something you never expect.’
The tributes to Jota were not limited to his former teammates, with Kylian Mbappe coming off the bench to score Real Madrid’s third goal and paying homage to the Liverpool star.
The Frenchman held up his hands in the shape of ’20’ to signal Jota’s shirt number with the Reds.
Alexander-Arnold had already spoken movingly about his departed friend, posting a tribute on social media on the day of his death.
‘It’s so difficult to find the right words when your head and heart are struggling to accept that someone you care so much about has gone,’ the 26-year-old wrote on social media.
‘Diogo, your family was your world. They were everything. For Rute, his children, and his parents, all of our hearts are broken. And for Andre as well. Brothers and best friends.
‘When it’s less painful, I want to remember Diogo with a big smile. So many laughs and happy moments. He was such a great teammate and a true friend.
‘Forever number 20. Rest in peace, Diogo.’
On the field Real Madrid are into the semi-finals where they will take on European champions PSG on Wednesday.
In the other half of the draw Chelsea face Brazilian side Fluminense on Tuesday.
