The Reds have returned from their summer break with a hugely emotional friendly against Preston North End, with this their first game since the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.

Tributes were paid before the game for the former Liverpool forward and fans continued to sign his song throughout, with the Portuguese international never to be forgotten.

Conor Bradley scores first Liverpool goal since Diogo Jota's death after perfect tribute	Journalist: Liverpool’s first pre-season game will carry poignant motivation to ‘do it for Diogo’	Preston vs Liverpool LIVE - score, Conor Bradley goal, channel and stream, Jota tributes

Nobody can quite imagine just what the players are going through, but with Arne Slot telling them to react how Jota would, they have managed to play some excellent football.

The first goal of the new season was scored by right-back Conor Bradley in the 33rd minute after a tidy bit of play in the final third, with Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa also playing a part in the goal.

However, the celebration is what everyone was focused on, with Bradley giving a subtle nod to his former teammate but also close friend.

Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Throughout the first half Bradley was a constant threat down the right and he was rewarded for his efforts with a goal.

Tricky play from Ngumoha was also followed by Chiesa, who found Bradley at the back post courtesy of a slight touch from Dominik Szoboszlai.

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Bradley then found the bottom left-hand corner and calmly celebrated his goal, with BBC Sport journalist Daniel Austin spotting Bradley subtly paying tribute to Jota after opening the scoring.

“After scoring the opener and being congratulated by his team-mates, Conor Bradley took a second to look to the heavens as he walked back towards his position at right-back,” Austin reported.

READ MORE: Florian Wirtz and Virgil van Dijk left out of Liverpool’s squad to face Preston for the same reason

It was a touching tribute in a game full of them, with Liverpool supporters also regularly heard singing the Portuguese international’s song for the majority of the game.

Bradley was substituted at half-time, along with the rest of the original starting XI, although his promising 45 minutes suggest he could have a big part to play this season.

In the second half, Slot rang the changes, as most expected, and fielded an entire new XI for the final 45 minutes.

One of these changes was Darwin Nunez, who has been linked with a move away all summer and looks almost certain to leave in the near future.

However, despite all the rumours, the Uruguayan got himself on the scoresheet after capitalising on a mistake at the back, with the 26-year-old recreating one of Jota’s old celebrations.

Nunez copied his ‘crocodile’ celebration that the Portuguese international did on so many occasions, as well as sitting down on the floor to do his PlayStation one as well.

A touching tribute from Nunez for a player who will never be forgotten.