Preseason play kicks off for Liverpool on Sunday, but it’s quite hard to focus on soccer on the pitch following the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident. Players have expressed their emotions after losing a friend and teammate, as Jota made a significant impact at Liverpool. However, the season must go on, starting with an away match against Preston North End before heading to Hong Kong to face Milan.
Liverpool will honor Jota with numerous tributes throughout the match, where both teams will wear black armbands. Pre-match tributes will be available for streaming on YouTube, just prior to the friendly.
How to watch Preston vs. Liverpool
- Date: Sunday, July 13
- Time: 9:45 a.m. ET
- Location: Deepdale – Preston, England
- Pregame coverage: LFCTV and Liverpool YouTube
- Match live stream: CBS Sports Golazo Network
Planned Tributes
Ahead of kickoff, expect a performance of You’ll Never Walk Alone, the anthem of Liverpool. The club will lay a wreath and observe a moment of silence while tributes are displayed on the stadium screens. Preston will offer a commemorative matchday program, and Liverpool has announced that Jota’s number 20 jersey will be retired across all levels of the club in his honor.
New Debuts Incoming
With the recent signings of Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool’s squad see adjustments, possibly featuring their debuts in this match. Both players face expectations, particularly Wirtz who has a record transfer fee to justify after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid.
Prediction
Despite the emotional circumstances, Liverpool’s depth should ease them into a preseason victory in this first match. Wirtz is likely to score and start fulfilling his hefty price tag right away.
Pick: Preston 0, Liverpool 4
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