Reds return for pre-season amid sombre mood at AXA training ground

LIVERPOOL began their preseason preparations at the AXA Training Centre yesterday.

- By JOE RIMMER

The mood was a sombre one at the training ground as the Reds continue to mourn Diogo Jota following his death last week.

The Portuguese was killed in a car crash along with his brother Andre Silva in Spain after their vehicle veered off the road, leading to an outpouring of grief across the football world.

A number of Liverpool's squad, along with club officials, attended Jota's funeral service in Portugal on Saturday, having been given extra time off by the club to process the death of their teammate.

Indeed, Liverpool postponed the start of preseason training, which had originally been scheduled to begin with a smaller group of players on Friday before a further contingent returned on Monday.

Tributes to Jota, including flowers and flags, were left both at Anfield and at the entrance of Liverpool's AXA Training Centre, where the majority of Liverpool’s squad arrived yesterday.

Summer signings Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Milos Kerkez were a part of the group.