Arne Slot recalls seven-word message to Diogo Jota before star's tragic death

Liverpool manager Arne Slot admits he was always telling Diogo Jota "now we need something special from you" - with the Portuguese star often delivering for the Premier League champions before his tragic death.

The Reds are mourning the death of their striker who died in a car crash. It has led to an outpouring of emotion for the 28-year-old, who had been on Liverpool's books since he joined them in 2020 from Wolves.

Slot has spoken publicly for the first time since Jota's death and recalled how often he used to ask his player to come up with a big moment, which he did time and time again. The Dutchman admits the No 20 was often the man he turned to when times got difficult.

He told the club's website: "Jots was the player that if things were really, really, really difficult, I always looked at him and said, ‘Now we need something special from you.’ And he delivered so many times in those moments.

"I can come up with all of these moments, even before I was here he had many of these moments as well. So we are in a very difficult time, so let’s try to do what Diogo did so many times. If it’s so difficult then try a little bit harder or just keep on going and try to make it work."

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Liverpool will play for the first time since Jota's passing on Sunday. They head to Preston to play a pre-season friendly after the player's funeral was held with a number of his current and former team-mates in attendance.

At Deepdale Jota and his brother Andre will be honoured as singer Claudia Rose Maguire is set to perform renditions of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ and Liverpool anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ shortly before kick-off at 3pm. Representatives from Liverpool and Preston will lay wreaths in front of the away end, known as the Bill Shankly Kop and there will be a minute’s silence before the match begins.

Slot has hailed the way his Liverpool players have conducted themselves in the wake of such tragedy as he said: "What they did in the last week with the togetherness they had, how they conducted themselves when we were in Portugal together, the fans couldn’t have asked for more from our players when it comes to how great human beings they are.

"Those are the two emotions. Of course, the first emotion of sadness is much stronger than the one of being proud. But it’s the both of them."

Liverpool confirmed this week they will retire the No 20 shirt in Jota's honour. The significant gesture will see the shirt number retired at all levels of the club - including the men’s senior side, women’s, U21s and academy level.

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