Liverpool manager Arne Slot has paid a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota, stating the club will “always carry him with us” after making the emotional decision to retire his No. 20 shirt.

Jota, 28, tragically lost his life in a car accident in Portugal last week, alongside his brother Andre, sparking widespread mourning throughout the football community.

Liverpool were left “devastated” by his passing and said the decision to retire his shirt number was “recognition of the profound personal impact he had on his teammates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them”.

Arne Slot said: “We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go. Maybe especially in difficult moments.

“But in any moment we are here, we will carry him with us in our thoughts and in our hearts. To retire his shirt is the one thing we could, should and have done.”

The Dutchman reflected on the difficulty of returning to football while the team continues to grieve, as they prepare for their upcoming friendly match against Preston on Sunday.

“Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened,” he added. “It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate. Can we train again? Can we laugh again? And I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was.

“And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his teammates, to the staff, he was always himself. So let us try to be ourselves as well.”

When asked what his overriding memory of Jota would be, Slot said: “I’ve only worked with him for a season and in that season he has been so important for me, for the club, for the fans, for his teammates in difficult moments. So, I can come up with the Everton goal, I can come up with some other goals – Fulham when we were down to 10.

“I think what I take comfort in [is that] in the last month of his life he was a champion in everything. A champion for his family. A champion for his country because he won the Nations League. And of course a champion for us by winning the Premier League.”

Arne Slot, along with several members of the Liverpool first team, attended Jota’s funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, this week to offer their support to his wife, Rute Cardoso, and his family. Captain Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson were seen carrying wreaths shaped like football shirts, prominently displaying Jota’s No. 20 at the center.

Liverpool players are set to face an emotional moment as they take to the pitch for their first pre-season friendly against Preston at Deepdale on Sunday afternoon. A special tribute to Diogo and Andre will take place before kick-off.

A rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone will be played, a wreath will be laid, and a minute’s silence will be observed. Additionally, images of Diogo and Andre will be shown on the stadium’s big screens.