Liverpool FC is facing one of the toughest and emotional starts to their 2025/26 pre-season. The tragic passing away of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva has deeply affected the entire squad.
As the club begins its return to training, everything now moves with a heavy heart — and with great care.
The Reds were supposed to begin their pre-season on Friday, July 4. But after the heartbreaking news last Thursday, Liverpool postponed the start of training.
Instead, most of the players travelled to Portugal to attend Jota’s funeral in Gondomar, standing together as a team in grief.
Diogo Jota and Andre funeral
Now, the squad will return to the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday, July 8.
However, the mood is far from normal. Liverpool manager Arne Slot and the coaching staff are giving the players space and time to adjust before making key decisions — especially when it comes to stepping back onto the pitch.
One of those decisions involves the upcoming friendly against Preston North End. Scheduled for Sunday, July 13 at Deepdale, the match was planned long before Jota’s passing.
As per the Liverpool Echo, the game is set to be shown live on ITV 1 (for free), with coverage beginning at 2:50 pm BST and kickoff at 3:00 pm. But as of now, the club has not confirmed if the match will go ahead.
The final call will be made after discussions with the players and staff. Liverpool wants to ensure everyone feels emotionally ready.
Preston North End have already expressed full support, saying they will postpone the match if Liverpool chooses not to play.
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Liverpool pre-season fixtures
If the Preston game takes place, it will mark Liverpool’s first match since the tragedy. Fans might see new signings like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez take the field.
After Preston, the Reds are set for a busy pre-season schedule. They will travel to Hong Kong to face AC Milan on July 26, followed by a match against Yokohama F.
Marinos in Japan on July 30. Their pre-season concludes at home with a double-header against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on August 4.
For now, though, football takes a back seat. The pain of losing Diogo Jota remains fresh. Liverpool will only move forward when the time feels right.
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