Liverpool players arrive at training ground for first time since Diogo Jota tragedy

Liverpool players have returned to Melwood for the first time since the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car crash last week. Arne Slot's team were initially scheduled to return for pre-season on Friday, with a larger group expected on Monday, but the tragic passing of Jota delayed these plans. The 28-year-old and his brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a car accident on Thursday while travelling across Spain to catch a ferry back to England.

The majority of Liverpool's first-team squad attended the funeral on Saturday in the small Portuguese town of Gondomor, alongside a delegation of senior club officials and former team-mates who had visited the player's wake on Friday evening. Liverpool's postponed return is now in progress as players, including defenders Andy Robertson and Conor Bradley and star player Mohamed Salah, were spotted returning to the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday morning.

Liverpool's first friendly match of the summer is currently scheduled for Sunday, July 13, against Preston North End at Deepdale. However, a decision on whether the match will proceed has not yet been made,

A final call will only be taken once the team have resumed training together and after all players and staff have been consulted, as they continue to mourn the loss of their beloved friend and teammate.

Preston are reportedly preparing for the match to proceed, marking their first home friendly of the summer. The Championship side will maintain communication with the Premier League champions, leaving the decision regarding the game to Liverpool and their players.

The Lilywhites have also reportedly arranged their own tributes to honour Jota during the match.

ITV are scheduled to air the match, should it take place. The decision to televise the fixture was made prior to Jota's tragic passing and is said to be purely an unfortunate coincidence as public interest in the fixture grows.

Jota's funeral took place at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar catholic church on Saturday morning. Among those in attendance were Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Darwin Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch, Federico Chiesa and manager Arne Slot.

Also present were Jota's former Liverpool team-mates Caoimhin Kelleher, Jordan Henderson and James Milner.