By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Liverpool players showed up for their first day of pre-season training after the heartbreaking death of beloved team-mate Diogo Jota.
Jota, 28, and his footballer brother Andre Silva, 25, tragically died in a crash, while travelling across Spain to catch a ferry to England, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The funeral took place on Saturday in their hometown of Gondomar, with Reds captain Virgil van Dijk and Scotland defender Andy Robertson carrying floral tributes in honour of Jota and Silva. Manager Arne Slot was also part of Liverpool’s delegation.
Liverpool were initially scheduled to return for pre-season on Friday, with a larger group expected on Monday, but the tragic passing of Jota postponed those plans.
Slot’s squad, who are still in mourning, returned to their Melwood training base on Tuesday morning.
Liverpool’s first summer friendly is scheduled on Sunday, 13 July against Preston, although it is unclear whether that game will still go ahead.
The Reds will then head on tour to Asia where they will play games in Hong Kong and Japan, before a final pair of friendlies against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on August 4.
Liverpool’s season then officially begins on August 10 with the Community Shield against Crystal Palace.