Liverpool played their first pre-season friendly against Preston North End yesterday at Deepdale, a match overshadowed by profound grief following the tragic deaths of forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva.
The 3-1 victory, with goals from Conor Bradley, Darwin Núñez, and Cody Gakpo, was secondary to the emotional tributes that defined the occasion, transforming the game into a poignant memorial for Jota, whose No. 20 shirt has been retired by the club.
Touching moments
The match began with heartfelt tributes. Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in front of Liverpool’s travelling fans, and Claudio Rose Maguire, wife of former Preston player Sean, sang a moving rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone as a requiem.
You’ll Never Walk Alone pic.twitter.com/oaXHwJ1Umr
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) July 13, 2025
Both teams wore black armbands, and a minute’s silence was observed for Jota and Silva. Liverpool fans in the Bill Shankly Kop chanted Jota’s name 20 minutes before kick-off and again at the 20th minute, honoring his shirt number, with the entire stadium of 21,289 joining in for a 10-minute tribute. A special matchday programme featuring Jota with the Premier League trophy was produced by Preston, and a tribute banner was displayed in the stands.
Moving comments from Arne Slot and Virgil Van Dijk
Liverpool manager Arne Slot spoke eloquently about the challenge of resuming football amidst grief, emphasizing authenticity in emotions. He told the Liverpool website, “Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened. But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate… And I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was. Jota was always himself… So let us try to be ourselves as well. If we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry.”
Captain Virgil van Dijk, watching from the stands, posted on Instagram: “An emotional day but good work from the boys, thanks for all your love and support Reds. Big thanks to Preston and good luck for the rest of the season!”
The match, while a sporting event, served as a cathartic moment for Liverpool’s players, staff, and fans, uniting them in honoring Jota’s memory. The emotional weight was palpable, with tributes reflecting the profound impact of Jota’s loss on the club and the wider football community.
