Liverpool return to training in wake of Jota death
FILE: Liverpool's Portuguese striker Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring a goal during the English League Cup third round football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on September 25, 2024. Liverpool striker Diogo Jota died along with his brother early July 3, 2025 in a road accident in northwest Spain, the Spanish Civil Guard said. The accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on a highway in the province of Zamora. The vehicle "left the road" before bursting into flames, the Civil Guard said, adding that the two passengers, Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Felipe, also a professional footballer, were deceased. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
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The Premier League champions postponed the start of preseason training after Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in northern Spain last Thursday.
Manager Arne Slot and a number of the Liverpool squad, led by 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 pictured arriving at the training ground.
Salah said in his tribute to the Portuguese international that he was frightened to go back to Liverpool to face the reality of Jota's passing.
"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," Salah posted on Instagram.
A site of remembrance has been set up at the club's iconic Anfield stadium, where hundreds of bouquets of flowers, shirts, scarves, and pictures have been left by fans and former players in recent days.
Liverpool's first pre-season friendly is scheduled for Sunday away at Championship side Preston.
But ticket sales for that match have been suspended pending a final decision on whether the match will go ahead.
Liverpool are then due to go on an Asian tour, playing AC Milan in Hong Kong and Japanese side Yokohama Marinos before the end of the month.
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