Preston v Liverpool dwell: Reds play first match since dying of Diogo Jota with tributes
Liverpool face Preston North End in a preseason friendly today in the first match since the death of Diogo Jota.
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in Spain on 3 July, with the pair having been on their way to catch a ferry to England after the Liverpool forward was advised not to fly.
Tributes flooded in for the siblings, with several Liverpool players and staff members attending the wake as well as the funeral in Gondomar on 5 July.
Today’s match was originally in doubt in the wake of the accident, though Liverpool confirmed that the game will go ahead and several tributes are planned ahead of kick-off at Deepdale.
Players from both sides will wear black armbands, with a minute’s silence taking place along with a rendition of the Liverpool anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
Follow all the latest updates from Deepdale below:
Preston 0-0 Liverpool
Half a chance for Ngumoha as the ball runs free in the box, but again his shot is blocked and Szoboszlai then fires into a sea of bodies too.
We have a brief cooling break now.
Preston 0-0 Liverpool
Lovely play from Chiesa as he reads the goal kick well and is suddenly through on goal after Gibson misreads it, though the Preston defender does well to recover and make the challenge in the box before Chiesa cuts back and curls wide.
Preston 0-0 Liverpool
Some decent possession from both sides, with each starting XI looking very different to those of last season.
For Preston, that is mainly because of new signings, while the for visitors it is because Slot has chosen to give several youngsters a chance.
One of those is Rio Ngumoha, who has impressed so far today as does so once again as he beats his man before cutting into the area and seeing a decent effort deflected behind.
A decent start for a player who is just 16!
Preston 0-0 Liverpool
Better from Liverpool as Ngumoha cuts in to create the space for the cross, but it sails over Salah at the back post.
Preston 0-0 Liverpool
A bit of pressure from Liverpool, with Small delivering a decent cross before the hosts come again and the left-back overhits the next ball in.
Moments later, Gibson drives a shot wide from distance.
Preston 0-0 Liverpool
Preston have their first chance after a lovely cross in from Hughes, but Osmajic isn’t there to meet it.
Preston 0-0 Liverpool
Bit of pinball in the Preston area as Ngumoha gets into box and lays off the pass to Szoboszlai, but the Hungarian can’t get the shot away.
