Goosebumps-inducing atmosphere! Liverpool's first friendly becomes a memorial service for Diogo Jota

With an emotional memorial service, Liverpool FC remembered the deceased professional Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva before their first friendly match of the new season.

Before kickoff of the match against Preston North End, the Liverpool club anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" was sung live. During this performance, Preston captain Ben Whiteman stepped onto the pitch and laid a blue and white wreath of flowers in front of the fans.

During a subsequent minute's silence, images of the brothers were shown on stadium screens. Players and fans visibly struggled to maintain composure. Both teams wore black armbands at Deepdale Stadium. English football champions Liverpool had announced they would never again give away the number 20 shirt worn by Jota.

"We will always carry him with us, in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go," said coach Arne Slot in an interview on the club's website before the match. In the last month of his life, Jota was "a champion in everything," especially for his family. This thought often brings him comfort, the Dutchman explained.

"Nothing seems important considering what's happened," Slot said, referring to today's friendly against Preston North End. But Liverpool is a football club, "and we have to train again and we have to play again, whether we want to or not." Liverpool's new signing Florian Wirtz was not yet in the squad for the friendly.