It sounded like a simple request from Arne Slot to 23 Liverpool footballers readying themselves for a title defence.
It sounded like a simple request from Arne Slot to 23 Liverpool footballers readying themselves for a title defence.
The Liverpool manager knows he will never set a tougher yet more important assignment than asking his players to resume professional duties while mourning the death of their teammate, Diogo Jota.
The pre-season friendly at Preston North End was not the warm-up originally intended. This was a remembrance service, players and fans uniting in an emotionally charged but vital step in a long grieving process.
The visiting supporters timed their first chant for Jota 20 minutes prior to kick-off, just before You’ll Never Walk Alone was sung with tender power by Claudio Rose Maguire, the wife of former Preston player Sean. It was performed as a requiem while the home captain, Ben Whiteman, laid a wreath in front of Liverpool’s supporters.
Twenty minutes in, 21,289 spectators joined in as the travelling Kop led another vocal tribute which extended for 10 minutes, Preston proving the classiest of hosts. Mohamed Salah, one of four regulars of the 2024-25 title season to start the 3-1 win, was visibly moved.
Here were Liverpool re-adjusting and re-embracing the duality of a sport which can mean nothing and everything; to somehow find comfort and joy from the activities which have defined the young lives of these young men and their sadly departed friend who loved and played the game with such skill and enthusiasm.
When Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo scored in the second half, they imitated Jota’s goal celebrations. Jota’s ‘20’ shirt is retired, but the delight he expressed when scoring is to be shared by all.
Such solace signposts the correct path for every player, staff member and supporter who knew and so admired the striker. That will be so for the entirety of his teammates’ careers.
Slot has proven himself an even greater leader in the last two weeks as when winning the Premier League, recognising how everyone ‘being themselves’ is fundamental to respecting Jota’s legacy.
“If we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry,” he said. “If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they cannot train. But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you.”
Such words capture how since the morning of July 3, the upcoming campaign has carried a different meaning for Liverpool.
The ferocious ambition to win remains intact. It has to. But that obligation carries an added, unwanted burden which while fuelling the motivation of a squad determined to honour the memory of their friend must absorb compassionate understanding from the rest of us.
Over the coming months, we may find ourselves hailing the courage of a team which is driven to further success by its sorrow, every rallying cry from Slot and Virgil van Dijk referencing the quest to deliver the ultimate tribute of a trophy.
There must also be recognition that expecting the bereaved to perform at their optimum level when every win, draw and defeat has such resonance is unreasonable. At times, the weight could be unbearable.
For the foreseeable future, it feels appropriate that the usual rules of criticism do not apply. There must be humanity within the analysis. Only those with the darkest souls will mock a misplaced pass, poor shot, defensive howler or shock defeat without a trace of empathy and appreciation of the mitigating circumstances.
Until two weeks ago, this Deepdale fixture was supposed to be about early impressions of new signings, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and keepers Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman making their first appearances.
It was meant to be about how Liverpool look without Trent Alexander-Arnold, with reference to Conor Bradley’s first-half goal.
In a normal world, this report would ask if Liverpool need another centre-back to prevent set-piece goals such as the one scored by Preston’s Liam Lindsay, or ask which of Slot’s back-ups appear surplus to requirements. There is no timeline or guidebook to consult as to when such considerations no longer risk being crass and insensitive.
Correctly, no Liverpool staff or players were available for interview immediately before or after the game. What more can they add to the word-perfect tributes of the last 12 days?
What purpose would it serve to urge them to re-examine their sadness, or flippantly attempt to change the subject to tactical tweaks, or future buying and selling?
These remain inconsequentialities for now. Life must go on, but only the bereaved have the right to judge when a semblance of the ‘normal’ matchday rituals fully resume.
So the Liverpool squad played in memoriam, as they will in Asia during their upcoming tour, at Wembley in August’s Community Shield, and across the country and continent every week for the next nine months; honouring their friend with songs and goal celebrations, zoning in on fresh, deeply personal ambitions, and unsure as to when they will next win without a feeling of loss.
05:25 PM BST
Liverpool’s number 20, forever
Oooh his name is Diogooo 🎶
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
Truly special moments at full-time ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bjl0Iwi3To
05:15 PM BST
A lot to take in
05:12 PM BST
Very, very emotional
In the days after Diogo Jota’s death, Andy Robertson paid a lovely tribute to his good friend and Jota’s brother. That tribute and these two images show just how much Jota meant to the Scotland captain. They spent a lot of time on the pitch together but also off it, which included playing darts, snooker and going to the races.
05:07 PM BST
Scenes after FT
What an incredibly poignant scene this is: Liverpool's players stood still, looking up at the away end and clapping along as Diogo Jota's name is sung. It's been like this since the final whistle. pic.twitter.com/o3FUvYXyp8
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) July 13, 2025
05:06 PM BST
Paying tribute to Diogo Jota
A special celebration ❤️ pic.twitter.com/B1uG1LiBEE
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
04:58 PM BST
Credit to Preston
They have played their part in the fitting tributes to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, which included the commemorative edition matchday programme, the playing of You’ll Never Walk Alone and the wreath being laid in front of the travelling Liverpool fans. The Preston players, staff and fans can hold their heads up high.
04:53 PM BST
Emotional scenes
The Liverpool players and staff are clapping the away end as Diogo Jota’s name continues to be sung out, with the image of Jota and Andre Silva on the big screen above them. The players are taking it all in and you can see the emotion in their eyes. Kostas Tsimikas sings along and no-one is moving anywhere.
04:51 PM BST
Full time
There is the final whistle at Deepdale and Liverpool have beaten Preston 3-1 thanks to goals from Bradley, Nunez and Gakpo.
Victory in our first pre-season outing on an afternoon we paid tribute to Diogo and Andre ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZMU2XwTaDR
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
04:49 PM BST
90+1 mins: Preston 1 Liverpool 3
Diogo Jota’s song is belted out once more by the Liverpool fans as we enter into extra time.
04:48 PM BST
90 mins: Preston 1 Liverpool 3
There will be two added minutes.
04:47 PM BST
GOAL! Gakpo seals victory for Liverpool
Liverpool’s two-goal lead is restored and another tribute to Diogo Jota. Doak wins possession for Liverpool high up the pitch and lays the ball across the box. Nunez is selfless and allows the ball to go through his legs, allowing Gakpo to slide the ball into the net. Gakpo celebrates with the shark celebration that Nunez did and then signals number 20 with his fingers.
04:43 PM BST
85 mins: Preston 1 Liverpool 2
Preston have another corner. The inswinging delivery finds Kamara at the back post but he cannot guide his header on target. He perhaps should have found the target with that header.
04:41 PM BST
GOAL! Lindsay gets one back for Preston
Okkels sends in an outswinging corner from the right and Lindsay powers a header past Woodman.
04:39 PM BST
80 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
Deepdale rises as a banner in tribute to Diogo Jota goes across the front of the away end.
On the pitch Jebbison has a decent opportunity for Preston inside the Liverpool box. Former Preston keeper Woodman does well to get down to his left and the save loops into the air before bouncing on top of the bar.
04:36 PM BST
78 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
Doak cannot believe he is not given a penalty. He gets past Pasiek right near the byline and the Preston man has a hold of Doak’s shirt. Doak goes down but the referee waves the appeals away. That probably should have been a penalty. A reminder no VAR in use today.
04:35 PM BST
76 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
How did Liverpool not score there? They had numerous chances in quick succession inside the Preston box. The offside flag eventually goes up but looking at the replays I am not sure where the offside offence was.
04:32 PM BST
73 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
Kerkez wins Liverpool a free-kick deep inside the Preston half down the left. Robertson sends it in but Liverpool are flagged for offside, Koumas the man who was in the offside position as Robertson sent in the free-kick.
04:28 PM BST
69 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
It is time for the cooling break and Preston are going to take this opportunity to make a host of changes, seven in total.
04:25 PM BST
66 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
Liverpool’s two new full-backs have been good in these first 20 minutes of the second half. Kerkez has been underlapping and overlapping Gakpo down the left whilst doing his defensive duties. Down Liverpool’s right Frimpong has used his electric speed to good effect. Arne Slot will be happy with how the two of them have started in their first 20 minutes in red.
Gakpo has had a few sighters at goal and his latest curling effort from the edge of the box misses the target.
04:22 PM BST
63 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
Gakpo exchanges a one-two with Koumas just inside the Preston box and tries to beat Iverson at his near post but the Preston keeper gets down to his right to make the save.
04:18 PM BST
60 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
Preston are making a couple of changes as Offiah and Lindsay replace Storey and Gibson.
04:17 PM BST
59 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
This time Valentin is penalised for a foul on Gakpo, this time just outside the Preston box.
Nunez takes but his effort goes over the bar. The Liverpool fans though behind the goal still sing his name.
04:15 PM BST
56 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
Jones hits a shot with venom from outside the box but it is straight at Iverson.
04:15 PM BST
55 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 2
Gakpo cuts inside Valentin on the left-hand side of the Preston box and goes down wanting a penalty but the referee waves that away.
Down the other end Osmajic wastes a decent chance for Preston. He could have tried to find Jebbison at the back post but instead decides to shoot and hits the side netting.
04:11 PM BST
GOAL! Nunez doubles Liverpool’s lead and pays tribute to Diogo Jota
Liverpool are 2-0 up and Nunez celebrates with a fitting tribute to Diogo Jota. A back pass from Storey towards Preston keeper Iverson does not have enough on it and Nunez pounces, taking it round Iverson and putting it into an empty net. The Uruguayan celebrates with a couple of Jota’s favourites; the shark chop and the remote control.
Nunez went through a repertoire of Jota celebrations after scoring. Suspect they will be repeated every time Liverpool score this season.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
04:05 PM BST
47 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 1
Kerkez, as he did so often for Bournemouth over the last two seasons, makes an underlapping run into the Preston box but Gakpo’s pass forward is slightly too heavy and goes out of play.
04:03 PM BST
Second half
We are back under way at Deepdale. As expected, Liverpool make lots and lots of changes at the break; 11 in total. There are unofficial debuts for Kerkez and Frimpong. Here is how Liverpool are lining up for this second half:
Woodman, Frimpong, Nallo, Robertson, Kerkez, Endo, Jones, Doak, Koumas, Gakpo, Nunez.
Freddie Woodman will be in goal for Liverpool in this second half, having joined from Preston on a free transfer just a few weeks ago.
Preston have brought on Jebbison, who is loan from Bournemouth. He has replaced Keane.
03:54 PM BST
Tributes throughout the first half
03:51 PM BST
Conor Bradley has Liverpool ahead at the break
03:47 PM BST
Half-time
That is it for the first half and Liverpool lead 1-0 at the break thanks to Bradley’s goal.
We lead at the break 🔴 pic.twitter.com/woUbyb3sjI
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
03:46 PM BST
45+1 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 1
The Liverpool players on the bench are going through their warm-ups and preparations to come on in the second half as Arne Slot will presumably send out a new XI after half-time.
03:45 PM BST
45 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 1
Preston send in a long throw and it is flicked onto Hughes, who is just six yards out from the Liverpool goal but his looping header lands on top of the net.
Two added minutes at the end of this first half.
03:44 PM BST
44 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 1
Bradley challenges well Thordarson and Preston have a corner out on the left. Thordarson takes it short and eventually Preston send in a cross to the far post, where Mamardashvili comes out of his goal to punch away. Authority from the huge Georgian.
03:43 PM BST
42 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 1
Chance for Preston. McCann sends in a cross from the left just before the byline and a small deflection takes it into the path of Osmajic, who cannot guide his effort on target and pokes wide.
03:37 PM BST
36 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 1
Bradley goes down inside the Preston box but the referee waves any appeals for a penalty away. Bradley and Hughes tangled as they were going for the ball but no penalty given. Both players share a smile anyway.
03:33 PM BST
GOAL! Bradley gives Liverpool the lead
Arne Slot’s men are ahead and that goal has long been coming. It starts with a cut inside once more from Ngumoha and the ball comes to Chiesa, who shows great feet on the left-hand side of the box. Selflessly he does not shoot and lays it off to Szoboszlai, who then plays it onto Bradley. The Northern Irishman’s shot takes a deflection and nestles into the far corner. The shot was on target and so the goal will be Bradley’s.
In another time and place, there would be plenty of focus today on Conor Bradley as Liverpool re-adjust following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold. His goal is typical of how advanced he gets. If he can stay fit, there’s no reason why he can’t get at least half a dozen goals this season.
Bradley with the opener at Preston ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/jJCHPOOo93
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
03:32 PM BST
31 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
Ngumoha lays the ball back to Nyoni on the edge of the box. Nyoni takes one touch and tries to whip one into the far corner but his effort misses the target.
03:28 PM BST
28 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
Tsimikas sends in a teasing delivery from the left, trying to pick out Szoboszlai but Hughes’ touch on the stretch is enough to take it away from Szoboszlai and put it behind for a corner. Had Hughes not got a touch there Szoboszlai would have had a great chance.
The corner is sent in by Tsimikas and Iverson punches it out but only to the edge of the box. It falls to Szoboszlai, whose stinging effort is saved by Iverson.
03:26 PM BST
26 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
The Diogo Jota song is still being belted out.
03:24 PM BST
23 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
The whole stadium rises now to pay tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, with everyone singing Diogo’s song.
Another chance on the pitch for Ngumoha inside the Preston box but his effort is blocked. It has been a good start to the game for the 16-year-old.
Midway through the first half, we have a cooling break.
Whole of Deepdale is now joining in the Jota tribute which began on the 20th minute. Mohamed Salah looked visibly moved. The Lancashire club and their supporters are proving the most respectful hosts on this difficult day.
Ohh his name is Diogoooo ❤️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
03:20 PM BST
20 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
As we tick into the 20th minute, the Liverpool fans burst into another rendition of Diogo Jota’s song.
Chiesa meanwhile has a good chance for Liverpool as Gibson misreads a ball over the top. Chiesa looks like he will be in one-on-one but Gibson does well to get back. Chiesa does eventually get his shot away from inside the Preston box but his curling effort goes wide of the far post.
As the game reaches the 20 minute mark, Jota’s name echoes around Deepdale and Chiesa almost scores. What a moment that could have been. Just wide.
03:18 PM BST
17 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
After a stunning quintessential turn from Gravenberch in the centre of the pitch, the Dutchman drives forward and then lays the ball out to Ngumoha on the left. The 16-year-old cuts inside on the edge of the Preston box and gets his shot away, which is blocked. Ngumoha is full of confidence and is a brilliant talent, and he is only 16!
03:17 PM BST
15 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
Liverpool fans are getting their first glimpse of Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in red. He agreed a move from Valencia last summer and has joined Liverpool this summer.
03:14 PM BST
13 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
Ngumoha cuts inside on the left-hand side of the Preston box and whips in a cross to the far post, aiming for Salah but the delivery is slightly overhit and goes over Salah’s head.
03:11 PM BST
11 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
Chiesa thinks he is fouled inside his own half but the referee does not agree. Gibson decides to shoot from range but his effort is always fading away and goes wide of Mamardashvili’s right post.
03:10 PM BST
10 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
Another good cross from the left by Preston, this time by Small, that Tsimikas deals with once more.
03:09 PM BST
8 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
Hughes sends in a dangerous first-time cross from the left that Tsimikas deals with under pressure. That was a terrific delivery into the Liverpool penalty area.
03:04 PM BST
4 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
16-year-old Ngumoha does brilliantly down the left wing and cuts inside. He could selfishly take the shot on from the edge of the box but he selflessly lays it off to Szoboszlai, whose touch forward is intercepted.
03:03 PM BST
2 mins: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
Liverpool work it down the right through Salah and Bradley, with the ball ending up with Szoboszlai on the right-hand side of the penalty area. Szoboszlai thinks he has won a corner for the visitors but the referee does not agree.
03:01 PM BST
1 min: Preston 0 Liverpool 0
One of the particularly special links between these two clubs is the legendary Bill Shankly.
03:00 PM BST
Kick-off
We are under way at Deepdale, after another rendition of Diogo Jota’s song.
02:57 PM BST
Minute’s silence
Ahead of kick-off, the players stand around the centre circle to observe a minute’s silence to remember Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, the silence observed impeccably.
An impeccably observed period of silence to remember Diogo Jota and Andre Silva ❤️ pic.twitter.com/noeE4t21DE
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
His name is Diogo. ❤️#pnefc | @LFC
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) July 13, 2025
02:56 PM BST
Reminder of the teams
Liverpool starting XI: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Szoboszlai, Salah, Chiesa, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Ngumoha, Bradley, Stephenson, Nyoni.
Substitutes: Woodman, Pecsi, Endo, Nunez, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Doak, Kerkez, Frimpong, Nallo, Koumas, Morrison, Pilling.
Preston starting XI: Iverson, Valentin, Whiteman, Keane, McCann, Storey, Hughes, Gibson, Thordarson, Small, Osmajic.
Substitutes: Cornell, Offiah, Lindsay, Jebbison, Okkels, Felipe, Kamara, Pasiek, Lescott, Mawene, Tarr, Carroll.
02:54 PM BST
Pre-match tributes
After Preston’s anthem, Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love, is performed, You’ll Never Walk Alone is sung at Deepdale. Liverpool’s club anthem and ralling cry could not be more apt at this moment in time. In between the songs, a rendition of the Diogo Jota song was belted out by the Liverpool fans. As You’ll Never Walk Alone is sung, Preston captain Ben Whiteman brings out a wreath to lay in front of the travelling Liverpool fans.
Now both sides emerge, Liverpool led out by their captain today Mohamed Salah.
Preston skipper Ben Whiteman walked the length of pitch to lay a wreath in front of the visiting fans as ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was beautifully sung by Claudio Rose Maguire, the wife of former Preston player Sean.
02:51 PM BST
Remembering Liverpool’s number 20
02:42 PM BST
Liverpool warming up
A number of key players are not involved today including Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Alexis Mac Allister and new signing Florian Wirtz but one man who is involved is Mohamed Salah, who starts this afternoon.
Liverpool fans are currently giving a stirring rendition of their Diogo Jota chant. The first of many this afternoon.
Mo Salah will captain us against Preston 🔴 pic.twitter.com/FxYzstuQAG
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
02:39 PM BST
Debut in goal for the huge Georgian
6ft 6in (or 197cm) to be exact!
Giorgi Mamardashvili makes his first appearance for us this afternoon 🔴 pic.twitter.com/v5s5nVvF79
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
02:33 PM BST
Full team news
Liverpool have not travelled with a full senior squad to Preston. Many of the players who were involved in Nations League duty have remained training on Merseyside, so no debut for Florian Wirtz today. Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong are included, however, and are expected to feature at some point.
Liverpool starting XI: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Szoboszlai, Salah, Chiesa, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Ngumoha, Bradley, Stephenson, Nyoni.
Substitutes: Woodman, Pecsi, Endo, Nunez, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Doak, Kerkez, Frimpong, Nallo, Koumas, Morrison, Pilling.
Preston starting XI: Iverson, Valentin, Whiteman, Keane, McCann, Storey, Hughes, Gibson, Thordarson, Small, Osmajic.
Substitutes: Cornell, Offiah, Lindsay, Jebbison, Okkels, Felipe, Kamara, Pasiek, Lescott, Mawene, Tarr, Carroll.
02:30 PM BST
Liverpool retire Diogo Jota’s shirt number
Liverpool have announced the retirement of the No 20 jersey across all levels of the club as a fitting tribute to Diogo Jota.
It was widely expected the men’s jersey would remain associated with the Portuguese striker following his untimely death last week.
That is now confirmed. However, Liverpool have gone further by deciding that the ‘20’ will also never be worn again at academy level or by any future members of the women’s side.
Jota’s widow, Rute, and members of his family were consulted about the decision as the club is focused on remembering their player in the most appropriate and meaningful ways possible.
02:27 PM BST
Preston’s business so far this summer
INS:
Odeluga Offia → Brighton and Hove Albion
Daniel Iverson → Leicester City
Jordan Thompson → Stoke City
Daniel Jebbison → Bournemouth (loan)
Thierry Small → Charlton Athletic
Pol Valentin → Sheffield Wednesday
OUTS:
Emil Riis ← Bristol City (free)
Freddie Woodman ← Liverpool (free)
Ryan Ledson ← Huddersfield Town
02:26 PM BST
Out to warm up
As the Liverpool players emerge to warm up, the travelling fans belt out Diogo Jota’s song. For the unitiated, here are the lyrics:
“Ohhh, he wears the number 20;
He will take us to victory,
And when he’s running down the left-wing,
He’ll cut inside and score for LFC,
He’s a lad from Portugal,
Better than Figo don’t you know,
Ohhh, his name is Diogo!”
02:25 PM BST
Liverpool’s business so far this summer
INS:
Florian Wirtz → Bayer Leverkusen
Jeremie Frimpong → Bayer Leverkusen
Milos Kerkez → Bournemouth
Giorgi Marmadashvili → Valencia
Armin Pecsi → Puskas Academia
Freddie Woodman → Preston North End
OUTS:
Trent Alexander-Arnold ← Real Madrid
Caomhin Kelleher ← Brentford
Jarell Quansah ← Bayer Leverkusen
Nat Phillips ← West Bromwich Albion
Viteslav Jaros ← Ajax (loan)
02:21 PM BST
Tributes aplenty
02:18 PM BST
New coach in the Liverpool dugout
With Johnny Heitinga becoming Ajax’s head coach this summer, Arne Slot had a void to fill in his coaching staff and he has appointed fellow Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst as an assistant coach.
02:11 PM BST
Jota shirts everywhere
02:05 PM BST
Jota’s song will live on
02:03 PM BST
Preston team news
Ready to take on the Reds. 👊#pnefcpic.twitter.com/zkLy8nPtt6
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) July 13, 2025
02:00 PM BST
Liverpool team news
Our side to take on Preston today.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
You can watch the match live on All Red Video.
02:00 PM BST
Commemorative edition matchday programme
Classy gesture from the home club for today’s match programme:
Preston have created a commemorative edition of their matchday programme to pay tribute to Diogo and Andre. pic.twitter.com/ED0ttXwY74
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
01:25 PM BST
Liverpool poised for emotional return
Arne Slot has said Liverpool will carry the memory of Diogo Jota forever as they make an emotional return to playing duties on Sunday.
Liverpool took the tough decision to go ahead with their opening pre-season friendly of the summer, travelling to Preston North End for the first game since the Portugal striker’s death.
Slot’s statesmanship has come to the fore as a club figurehead since Jota died in a car crash on July 3, and ahead of a poignant afternoon he has spoken movingly about the difficulty but necessity to play again in Jota’s honour.
“Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened,” Slot told liverpoolfc.com. “But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not.
“What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate. What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate [for] what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there’s a wrong decision? And I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was.
“And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his team-mates, to the staff, he was always himself. So let us try to be ourselves as well. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train. But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you.”
There will be a series of tributes at Deepdale, Liverpool supporters travelling in volume to stand side-by-side with their grieving players.
Liverpool retired the No 20 shirt on Friday – a decision announced at 20.20pm – and Slot said that the most fitting tribute will be for the club to demonstrate the togetherness and selflessness which was one of Jota’s many assets.
“Jots was the player that if things were really, really, really difficult, I always looked at him and said, ‘Now we need something special from you.’ And he delivered so many times in those moments,” said Slot.
“I can come up with all of these moments, even before I was here he had many of these moments as well. So we are in a very difficult time, so let’s try to do what Diogo did so many times. If it’s so difficult then try a little bit harder or just keep on going and try to make it work.
“We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go. Maybe especially in difficult moments. To retire his shirt is the one thing we could, should and have done.
“What I take comfort in [is that] in the last month of his life he was a champion in everything. A champion for his family, which is the main and most important thing, because he got married. A champion for his country because he won the Nations League. And of course a champion for us by winning the Premier League.”
Category: General Sports
