Newcastle and Liverpool honour Kevin Keegan with mosaic tribute before Premier League opener

Newcastle United honoured the late Kevin Keegan with an emotional pre-match tribute at St James’ Park on Sunday, as the Magpies hosted Liverpool in their Premier League opener for the 2026/27 season. Keegan, the Armthorpe-born icon who represented both clubs during his career, died last month at the age of 75 following a battle with cancer.

Players from both sides warmed up wearing shirts bearing Keegan’s iconic number seven, while 500 shirts were arranged in a mosaic in the centre circle reading ‘legend’ and ‘There’s only one Kevin Keegan’. Former players Bobby Moncur, Ian Rush, Shola Ameobi and Sir Kenny Dalglish laid wreaths in the Newcastle memorial gardens ahead of the 4.30pm kick-off.

A letter from Keegan’s family, included in the pre-match programme, expressed deep gratitude to supporters for the warmth shown during what they described as one of the hardest periods the family had endured.

“The past couple of weeks have been some of the hardest that our family has endured, saying goodbye to our husband, father, and grandfather, Kevin,” the letter read. “Despite living outside of the region, your love and warmth from the North East has reached our hearts and filled us with so much comfort during these difficult days.”

The family noted that members had travelled to Newcastle in person to see the tributes outside St James’ Park, describing the scene as both sorrowful and deeply moving.

“The sea of black and white shirts and scarves, alongside colours from so many other clubs, reminded us how much Kevin meant to the footballing world,” the letter continued. “It was a sombre moment that reminded us of our pain and loss, yet matched with immense pride and love as we read so many personal and heartfelt messages.”

Keegan remains one of the most beloved figures in the history of both clubs. He won the First Division title and the UEFA Cup with Liverpool during his playing days before becoming a transformative figure at Newcastle, first as a player and later as the manager who came agonisingly close to delivering the Premier League title in the mid-1990s. His infectious personality and passion for the game earned him admirers far beyond Tyneside.