Liverpool are set to play their first pre-season friendly against Preston North End following the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident. The match, scheduled for Sunday at Deepdale, will be an emotional occasion for players and fans alike.
Manager Arne Slot has encouraged his players to embrace their emotions during this difficult time. "If we want to laugh, we laugh; if we want to cry, we're going to cry," Slot told Liverpool TV. "Be yourself, don't think you have to be different than your emotions tell you." He added, "We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go."
The funeral of the brothers took place last Saturday in Gondomar, with a large Liverpool delegation, including Slot, in attendance. Floral tributes have also been laid at Anfield, where Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, family members, and the Liverpool squad paid their respects.
Tributes Planned for Diogo Jota
Liverpool have retired Jota’s number 20 shirt across their men's, women's, and academy teams as a tribute to the former Wolves forward. Several tributes are planned for the Preston game, including a pre-match rendition of Liverpool's anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone, and a minute's silence. Both teams will wear black armbands.
"Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened," said Slot. "But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not."
How to Watch the Game
The pre-season friendly against Preston North End will be streamed live on All Red Video. Coverage begins at 2.15pm BST, with kick-off at 3pm BST. The game will also be available on LFCTV on Sky and Virgin.
- All Red Full and All Red Video members can watch live.
- New members can access All Red Video with a free first month.
The Liverpool squad intends to honor their teammate in the best way they know how – by playing the game. The consensus within the team was to get out and play, despite the difficulty of the situation. The match at Deepdale is expected to be a deeply emotional experience for everyone involved.