Everton striker Beto has shared a touching story about the late Liverpool star Diogo Jota, who reached out to him with a message of support after his move to Goodison Park in August 2023. Jota, who tragically died in a car accident on July 3, was the first Portuguese player to text Beto following his transfer from Udinese.
Speaking ahead of the 247th Merseyside Derby, Beto recalled: 'When I signed for Everton, he was the first guy who texted me. He said: "I'm happy for you. If you need anything in the city, I can help you, just give me a shout."' The pair were not close friends but would talk after every derby match, with Beto describing Jota as 'a really, really nice person, humble.'
Beto, along with teammate Youssef Chermiti and club ambassador Ian Snodin, laid floral tributes outside Anfield in memory of Jota. The Everton striker praised the unity between the two clubs' fans, noting: 'A lot of Everton fans were sad because even if he's a rival, it's more than football. Life is more than football.'
He added that he expects to be booed during the derby but understands the rivalry: 'They go there for football, but the part that they're human beings, they have it.' The match marks the first time the teams meet since Everton's move to Hill Dickinson Stadium.
