Liverpool's squad are due to return to the AXA Training Centre for the commencement of pre-season this week, following the heartbreaking loss of Diogo Jota. The majority of Arne Slot's first-team attended the funeral of Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, in Gondomar on Saturday.
The brothers tragically lost their lives in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning when their vehicle swerved off the road due to a tyre blowout. They were en route across Spain to catch a ferry back to Merseyside for the start of Liverpool's pre-season.
In light of Jota's untimely passing, Liverpool decided to delay the beginning of their pre-season training schedule. The initial group of Reds players had been scheduled to report to the AXA Training Centre on Friday (July 4), with a larger group expected to return on Monday (July 7).
Instead, Slot's team were given additional time off to come to terms with the devastating news of their colleague's death, with most players travelling to Portugal to attend his funeral.
However, the squad is now set to return to the AXA Training Centre to kick-start their pre-season preparations on Tuesday (July 8), reports the Liverpool ECHO.
Liverpool's first summer friendly is currently slated for next Sunday (July 13) against Preston North End at Deepdale. However, a decision regarding whether the match will proceed has yet to be made.
A decision will only be reached once the team has returned for pre-season training and after all players and staff have had a chance to mourn their close friend and colleague.
Preston is currently gearing up in anticipation of the match proceeding, which would mark their first home friendly of the summer.
Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson carry floral tributes for the funeral of Diogo Jota (Image: ESTELA SILVA/EPA/Shutterstock)
The Championship side will maintain communication with the Premier League champions and will follow their lead regarding whether the friendly will take place.
It is understood that Preston is organizing tributes to honour Jota at Deepdale, should Liverpool indeed choose to go ahead with the fixture.
Speaking last week about the loss of Jota, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said: "For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.
"I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.
"When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten."