Delayed Pre-Season Start
Liverpool’s first-team squad began pre-season training at the AXA Training Centre on July 8, 2025, following the tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a car crash on July 3. The 28-year-old Portuguese forward, who married Rute Cardoso 11 days prior, was en route from Porto to Santander, Spain, to catch a ferry to England due to medical advice against flying post-lung surgery. A tire blowout on the A-52 highway caused their Lamborghini to crash and ignite, killing both. Originally set to return on July 4 and 7, the squad, including Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Conor Bradley, was granted extra time to attend the brothers’ funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, on July 5.
Emotional Return
The squad’s return was somber, with players like Salah, who called Jota’s absence “extremely difficult to accept,” and Virgil van Dijk visibly emotional at the funeral, where they carried wreaths shaped as Jota’s No. 20 and Silva’s No. 30 shirts. Former players Jordan Henderson, James Milner, and others, alongside manager Arne Slot, attended, joined by Portugal’s Roberto Martinez and stars like Bruno Fernandes. Liverpool opened physical and digital books of condolence, and fans left tributes at Anfield and Wolves’ Molineux. Slot described Jota as “the essence of a Liverpool player,” highlighting his 65 goals and 22 assists in 182 games, including the 2024/25 Premier League title.
Preston Friendly Uncertainty
Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly against Preston North End at Deepdale, scheduled for July 13, 2025, remains uncertain. The club will decide post-training, consulting players and staff grieving Jota’s loss. Preston, preparing as if the match will proceed, plans tributes, including a minute’s silence, to honor Jota, whose 47 Premier League goals included a memorable Everton winner. ITV’s planned broadcast, decided before the tragedy, adds poignancy, with Joe Speight and Stephen Warnock set to commentate. The game, if played, may feature debuts from Florian Wirtz (£116.5m), Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez.
Tributes and Context
The football world mourned Jota, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Jürgen Klopp, and UEFA paying respects, including a minute’s silence at the Portugal-Spain Women’s Euro match. Liverpool retired Jota’s No. 20 and will pay his £10m-a-year salary until 2026, per his contract. Fans on X call for a statue, citing his “contagious joy” and 14 Portugal goals. The tragedy, likened to José Antonio Reyes’ 2019 crash, has delayed Liverpool’s preparations, with Salah and Darwin Nunez (linked to Napoli’s €55m bid) carrying emotional weight.
Next Steps
If the Preston friendly proceeds, it will be a platform to honor Jota, with his song — “Oh, he wears the No. 20” — expected to echo among 5,656 traveling fans. Liverpool’s next friendly is against AC Milan in Hong Kong on July 26, before their Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace on August 10, where the FA plans further tributes. Slot faces challenges integrating new signings like Wirtz while managing grief, with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo leading the attack. The Premier League opener against Bournemouth on August 15 looms, with Liverpool determined to honor Jota’s legacy through performance.
