Liverpool winning is never important in pre-season, but for the Reds, their victory over Preston North End— kicking off the preparations for the new campaign — was certainly not significant in the context of what the club has been through of late.
Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were remembered poignantly before the game. During it, the Liverpool fans in attendance regularly belted out his song in solidarity. And at the final whistle, there was a strong showing of togetherness as supporters and players came together as one for a touching moment.
As the Liverpool stars and staff gathered in front of the stand in which the away fans were housed for the day, Jota's song was sung loudly again. When that was concluded, the word 'Champions' was chanted on repeat.
Kostas Tsimikas, it appeared, was singing along as Jota's song rang around the stadium, with the players stood in a line as one. As the Preston fans filed out, the image of the afternoon was taking shape in front of them.
"Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened," Slot said before the game, speaking to Liverpool's official website. "But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not.
"What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate.
"What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate [for] what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there’s a wrong decision?"
Nothing could be more appropriate and poignant than this.
"I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was," Slot continued. "And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his teammates, to the staff, he was always himself.
"So let us try to be ourselves as well. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train. But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you."
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Today's game, clearly, was not about the result. It wasn't even about moving towards full fitness at the start of the new campaign.
It was about remembering Jota, and getting through it together. Emotion was inevitable. But Liverpool has handed the situation as best it could.
After a few minutes, the players and coaches turned to head back into the tunnel, in the corner at the opposite end of Deepdale Stadium. As they did, You'll Never Walk Alone began to be sung.
In times like these, the Liverpool anthem takes on a new kind of significance. At Anfield in a few weeks — for the friendly with Sevilla and then the first match of the new campaign against Bournemouth — it will be emotional again.
Diogo Jota, Liverpool's number 20, will never be forgotten. But the process of coming to terms with his passing has only just begun.