LIVERPOOL — Liverpool players returned to training on Tuesday for the first time since the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota, who was killed in a car crash alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in northern Spain last week.
The Premier League champions had delayed the start of their pre-season schedule following the devastating loss of the 28-year-old Portuguese international.
Manager Arne Slot, along with several members of the squad including captain Virgil van Dijk, attended Jota’s funeral in his hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, on Saturday.
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, and Wataru Endo were among the players seen arriving at Liverpool’s training ground for the somber return to preparations. In a heartfelt tribute, Salah expressed the difficulty of returning to the club without Jota.
“Teammates come and go but not like this. It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we go back,” the Egyptian forward wrote on Instagram.
In memory of the late forward, a site of remembrance has been set up at Liverpool’s iconic Anfield stadium. Fans, former players, and well-wishers have continued to lay flowers, shirts, scarves, and photos to honour Jota’s legacy.
Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly, scheduled for Sunday against Championship side Preston North End, is now in doubt. The club has suspended ticket sales while a final decision is pending on whether the game will go ahead.
The Reds are also slated to embark on an Asian tour later this month, with matches lined up against AC Milan in Hong Kong and Yokohama Marinos in Japan. It remains to be seen how Jota’s death may impact those plans.
