Liverpool Pre-Season Friendly at Preston Proceeds After Jota's Death

Liverpool's opening pre-season friendly against Preston North End will proceed as planned despite the recent tragic death of forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident. After sensitive discussions between both clubs and consultations with Liverpool players and staff, the match at Deepdale on Sunday will serve as an emotional occasion with tributes to Jota expected. The Liverpool squad, which had a delayed start to pre-season training to grieve and attend the funerals in Portugal, returned to training at the AXA Training Centre earlier this week. The game, which will be televised live on ITV1, marks Liverpool's first outing since the tragedy and precedes their upcoming Far East tour. Players and club officials have expressed profound sorrow over Jota’s passing, with notable tributes from teammates and Liverpool's leadership, highlighting the impact of the loss on the team. Preston North End will also pay respects, coordinating with Liverpool on how best to honor the late player during the match.