Liverpool's pre-season training schedule was postponed following the tragic death of Diogo Jota, with the Reds' players set to report back to the AXA Training Centre before their first pre-season game
14:46, 06 Jul 2025
PORTO, PORTUGAL - JULY 05: Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (L) and Liverpool's Scottish defender Andy Robertson (R) arrive for the funeral of Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto, on July 5, 2025. Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car crash in Spain on July 3, 2025, sparking widespread grief just after the Portugal star had got married. (Photo by Alex Juarez/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Liverpool players attended Diogo Jota's funeral(Image: Anadolu, Anadolu via Getty Images)
Liverpool players are set to return to the club's training ground on Tuesday, although it remains uncertain whether their first pre-season friendly will proceed as planned.
The initial group of Reds were scheduled to report back on Friday, with a larger group returning on Monday, July 7. However, following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota on Thursday, the club decided to delay the start of their training schedule.
Jota, 28, and his brother, Andre Silva, tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Spain on Thursday morning. They were en route across Spain to catch a ferry from Santander to Portsmouth, with the Portugal international expected to rejoin the club on Monday.
Most of Arne Slot's first-team squad attended the funeral on Saturday in the small Portuguese town of Gondomor, alongside a delegation of senior club officials who had visited the player's wake on Friday evening.
The Premier League champions are now due to return to the club's AXA Training Centre on Tuesday to commence their pre-season.
GONDOMAR, PORTUGAL - JULY 05: Chief Executive Michael Edwards with Ryan Gravenbach and Cody Gakpo, football players of Liverpool FC, arrive alongside teammates and representatives of Liverpool FC, at a funeral held for Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar on July 05, 2025 in Gondomar, Portugal. Diogo Jota was a professional football player for Liverpool FC and the Portuguese national team, while Andre Silva played for FC Penafiel in Portugal's second tier. The brothers died in a car accident in the province of Zamora, Spain, on July 3. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Liverpool have changed their pre-season plans(Image: Octavio Passos, Getty Images)
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Liverpool's opening friendly of the summer is currently slated for Sunday, July 13 against Preston North End at Deepdale. However, a decision on whether the match will go ahead has not yet been reached.
A final decision will only be made once the team have returned for pre-season training and after all players and staff have been consulted, as they continue to grieve the loss of their dear friend and teammate.
Preston are currently gearing up for the match, which would be their first home friendly of the summer. The Championship team will keep in touch with the Premier League champions and are leaving the decision on the game to Liverpool and their players.
GONDOMAR, PORTUGAL - JULY 05: Liverpool FC current Players Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo and Connor Bradley leave the church following the funeral held for Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar on July 05, 2025 in Gondomar, Portugal. Diogo Jota was a professional football player for Liverpool FC and the Portuguese national team, while Andre Silva played for FC Penafiel in Portugal's second tier. The brothers died in a car accident in the province of Zamora, Spain, on July 3. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Liverpool stars are preparing to return to pre-season(Image: Octavio Passos, Getty Images)
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It is understood that Preston are planning tributes to Jota at Deepdale, should the fixture proceed.
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Jota's funeral was held at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar catholic church on Saturday morning. Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Darwin Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch, Federico Chiesa and manager Arne Slot were among those in attendance.
Former Liverpool players Caoimhin Kelleher, Jordan Henderson and James Milner were also present.