Reds to press on with Preston friendly

FIRST GAME FOLLOWING JOTA'S DEATH WILL BE ON SUNDAY

- By THEO SQUIRES

LIVERPOOL'S opening preseason friendly at Preston North End will go ahead as planned after talks between the two clubs following the tragic death of Diogo Jota.

The Portuguese was killed in a car crash, along with his brother, Andre Silva, in the early hours of Thursday, July 3.

The match at Deepdale, kicking off at 3pm on Sunday July 13, will be the Reds’ first since the passing of the forward, who was laid to rest alongside his brother in their hometown of Gondomar on Saturday.

Liverpool reported back to the AXA Training Centre for the start of preseason training on Tuesday, with the mood understandably a sombre one at the Reds’ base in Kirkby.

The first phase of players had initially been due to report to the AXA Training Centre on Friday ahead of a larger contingent returning on Monday.