Liverpool's first match since the tragic passing of Diogo Jota will be broadcast on ITV 1 if it goes ahead after the broadcasting rights were acquired before his death
General view inside the stadium prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End FC and Stoke City FC at Deepdale
General view inside the stadium prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End FC and Stoke City FC at Deepdale
(Image: Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
Liverpool’s first match since the tragic passing of Diogo Jota is set to be broadcast live on ITV 1 - if it goes ahead. The Reds, who will report back to the AXA Training Centre for the start of pre-season training on Tuesday (July 8), are scheduled to take on Preston North End at Deepdale on Sunday (July 13).
Jota was killed in the early hours of Thursday (July 3), along with his brother, Andre Silva, after they were involved in a car crash.
They had been travelling across Spain in order to catch a ferry to return to England for the start of Liverpool's pre-season when their vehicle veered off the road following a tyre blowout.
The majority of the Liverpool squad were present in the pair’s hometown of Gondomar on Saturday (July 5) as Jota and Silva were laid to rest.
While the Reds will report back for the start of pre-season training on Tuesday, a decision on whether their first pre-season friendly of the summer goes ahead has not yet been made.
A decision will only be made once the players and staff have been consulted as they grieve for a close friend and colleague.
However, ITV 1 are poised to broadcast the fixture live on Sunday afternoon if it is played. With coverage getting underway at 2.50pm at Deepdale ahead of a 3pm kick-off, Joe Speight and former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock are set to provide commentary, with the programme then concluding at 5.10pm.
The ECHO understands that the broadcaster’s intention to air the Premier League champions’ first friendly of the summer - which could see summer signings Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez make their unofficial debuts for the club - was made long before Jota’s tragic passing.
It is understood that a deal was agreed in principle before the end of June, before a final agreement was struck to broadcast the game early last week.
Consequently, it is stressed that ITV’s broadcasting of the match, which now carries far greater meaning and public interest should it indeed take place, is sadly an unfortunate coincidence.
With the fixture's broadcasting confirmed in the Radio Times TV guide, it reads: "Preston North End v Liverpool (Kick-off 3.00pm). All the action from the friendly at Deepdale.
"Preston finished 15th in the Championship last term and will look forward to testing themselves against the reigning Premier League champions, who have further strengthened their squad over the summer by signing the likes of full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong and attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz".
While Liverpool are yet to decide whether they will fulfil the fixture, ITV will be guided by both clubs and respect any decision the Reds make.
Preston are currently preparing in anticipation that the game will go ahead.
It is understood that the Lilywhites are planning tributes in honour of Jota at Deepdale, should the Reds proceed with the friendly.
Liverpool had earlier taken the decision to postpone the start of their pre-season training schedule following Jota’s passing.
The first phase of Reds players had initially been due to report to the AXA Training Centre on Friday (July 4) ahead of a larger contingent returning on Monday (July 7).
Arne Slot’s squad were instead granted extra time off to process the shock news of Jota's passing, with the majority of players travelling to Portugal to attend the funeral.
But they will now report back to the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday for the start of their pre-season preparations, before deciding whether or not they will travel to Preston for their opening friendly this weekend.