The club's players and supporters paid a tribute to the star - who died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain earlier this month - at their pre-season friendly against Preston on Sunday (13.07.25) and the manager says the forward will always be remembered by those at the club.

Referring to Liverpool's decision to retire Jota's number 20 shirt, Slot told the club's website: "We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go. To retire his shirt is the one thing we could, should and have done…

"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, which is the main and most important thing, because he got married.

"A champion for his country because he won the Nations League, (with) a country that he cared about so much, because he also wore the flag when we had celebrations. And of course a champion for us by winning the Premier League."

Slot felt it was the right decision to go ahead with the match and believes that the squad can learn from Jota's approach as they come to terms with his tragic passing.

The coach said: "Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened. But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not.

"It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate. What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate (for) what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there’s a wrong decision?

"And I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota. And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his team-mates, to the staff, he was always himself. So let us try to be ourselves as well."