Liverpool WILL have first match since Diogo Jota's death this weekend

Liverpool's opening pre-season friendly away at Preston North End will go ahead as planned this weekend.

The Reds have been holding talks with Preston chiefs over the fixture and whether it should proceed, following the death of Diogo Jota. The Portugal striker tragically died last week, along with his brother, Andre Silva, following a car crash in Spain.

The match at Deepdale is set to kick off at 3pm on Sunday July 13. It will be Liverpool's first since the untimely passing of the striker, who was buried alongside his brother in their hometown of Gondomar on Saturday.

Liverpool players had been due to return to pre-season training last Friday, but that was delayed due to Jota's death. Slot's squad were instead given additional time off to come to terms with the heartbreaking news of their colleague's death, with most players travelling to Portugal to attend his funeral.

The Premier League champions duly returned to the AXA Training Centre for the start of pre-season training on Tuesday.

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Now, after consultations with Reds players and staff, as well as sensitive discussions between the two clubs, Sunday's friendly will take place as planned. The Championship team are understood to be planning tributes in honour of Jota, with guidance from Liverpool for what promises to be a poignant occasion.

Interestingly, the match is scheduled to be broadcast on ITV 1, with coverage starting at 2.50pm. Joe Speight and ex-Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock will provide commentary, with the programme wrapping up at 5.10pm. It's understood that the decision to air the club's first summer friendly was made before Jota's tragic death.

An agreement was reached in principle before the end of June, with a final deal to televise the game confirmed early last week.

As such, ITV's broadcasting of the match, which now holds much greater significance and public interest, is sadly just an unfortunate coincidence.

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