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View image in fullscreenLiverpool’s mourning players prepare to honour Diogo Jota back on the pitch

Arne Slot’s squad face an emotional afternoon at Preston on Sunday but believe it is better to start again at Deepdale than on tour in Hong Kong

Outside Anfield, the red sea of tributes to Diogo Jota and André Silva has continued to grow this week along with questions over whether Liverpool could play at Preston on Sunday, their first game since the brothers’ tragic loss.

The Premier League champions intend to honour their teammate in the best way they know how.

It will be only 10 days since the deaths of Jota and Silva when Liverpool appear at Deepdale for what is certain to be a hugely emotional occasion, and less than two days since the club retired Jota’s No 20 shirt.

There was no pressure on Liverpool to honour a friendly that could have been cancelled easily – unlike their commitment to a tour of Hong Kong and Japan at the end of the month – but at no point was that option relayed to Preston.

Liverpool retire No 20 shirt in honour of Diogo Jota after forward’s tragic deathRead more

Delaying a first appearance since the accident until they play Milan in Hong Kong on 26 July or Yokohama F.

The consensus was to get out and play, albeit while being acutely aware of how difficult the first stepswill be.

Their reactions to hearing You’ll Never Walk Alone before kick-off on Sunday and seeing tributes to Jota and Silva at Deepdale will be broadcast live.

Jota was a player who managed to enforce standards at Liverpool while lifting the atmosphere.

The new signings Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili were due to report for the usual pre-season tests last Friday, with their teammates starting back from Tuesday onwards, but all football-related activity was placed on hold once the deaths of Jota and Silva were confirmed.

Players who had extended international commitments this summer are unlikely to be considered for Sunday’s game.

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Liverpool and Preston will pay several tributes to Jota and Silva at Deepdale.