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Arne Slot pays heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota ahead of Preston North End friendly

Arne Slot has pledged Liverpool will always carry the memory of Diogo Jota in their hearts as the Reds prepare for their first game following the tragic loss of the player and his brother Andre Silva.

Jota and Silva died in a road traffic accident earlier this month as they were travelling across Spain to catch a ferry to the United Kingdom ahead of the start of Liverpool's pre-season.

Anfield has become a site of remembrance with thousands of tributes being laid outside the stadium by supporters, Reds players and staff along with the general public.

Liverpool announced on Friday they were retiring the number 20 jersey at all club levels in lasting recognition of Jota, while a number of tributes are planned ahead of what will be an emotional occasion when the Reds begin their warm-up programme at Preston North End on Sunday afternoon.

And speaking ahead of the game, Liverpool boss Slot said: "We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go.

Maybe especially in difficult moments.

"But in any moment we are here, we will carry him with us in our thoughts and in our hearts.

I think his parents and (Jota's wife) Rute can be so proud of the player and the person he was – mainly the person.

"I’ve spoken to many of his team-mates, I’ve spoken to many staff members, and they all rate him so high and all say how nice of a person he was.

So they should and will be very proud if they could hear what all his team-mates and all the staff members would say about him.

"Second of all, I think our fans can be so proud about the players we have at this club.

They’ve seen them winning the league, that was a great achievement, but what they did in the last week with the togetherness they had, how they conducted themselves when we were in Portugal together, the fans couldn’t have asked for more from our players when it comes to how great human beings they are.

"Those are the two emotions.