Five things to look out for in first Liverpool friendly - New vice-captain, shirt numbers, Diogo Jota tributes

Salah and wirtz

Via echo

Liverpool return to action on Sunday (July 13) for the first time since they got their hands on the Premier League trophy on May 25.

But while it was a party atmosphere at Anfield that day, it will be a much more sombre, emotional scene when they walk out at Preston North End.

The Reds are facing the Championship outfit in their first match since the passing of striker Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, on July 3.

It was only decided that Liverpool’s trip to Deepdale would go ahead following consultation with players and staff following their postponed return to the AXA Training Centre for the start of pre-season.

While the game will act as poignant occasion in memory of Jota and Silva, with multiple tributes planned ahead of kick-off,

supporters will also be given their first opportunity to see Arne Slot’s new-look side in action with the likes of club-record sign Florian Wirtz set to make his unofficial debut.

It would be remiss not to start with both clubs' plans to pay tribute to Jota and Silva following their tragic deaths.

Supporters attending the match have been asked to be in their seats by 2.45pm ahead of the 3pm kick-off as a mark of respect to the brothers, with tributes then getting underway at roughly 2.50pm.

Claudia Rose Maguire - wife of former Preston player Sean - will first sing a rendition of Can’t Help Falling In Love, which will then be followed by Liverpool’s anthem of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

While the latter is sung, North End captain Ben Whiteman will lay a wreath in front of the visiting supporters in the Bill Shankly Kop, ahead of a minute’s silence just before kick-off.

During the minute’s silence, digital tributes will be displayed on the big screen and across LEDs at Deepdale.

Both sets of players will also wear black armbands in honour of Jota and Silva, who was a player at Penafiel.

Preston have also created a commemorative edition of the matchday programme that features written tributes to the brothers.

Away from the already publicised tributes, it would be no surprise if both Liverpool’s players and supporters have their own ways to honour Jota.

There will almost certainly be banners in memory of the Portuguese in the away end, while his popular terrace chant is likely to be ringing in ears.

Liverpool need a new vice-captain this summer following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid.

And, depending on his line-up selection, Slot could offer a hint as to the identity of the full-back’s successor as Virgil van Dijk’s deputy.

Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker are the leading candidates as the remaining existing members of the leadership group.

Slot is set to hand out a number of unofficial debuts at Deepdale, with Liverpool having spent more than £200m in the summer transfer window so far.

Liverpool are yet to confirm the new shirt numbers allocated to their summer signings, revealing in each transfer press release that squad numbers will be confirmed later this summer.

But supporters will still get an early glimpse at what digits the likes of Wirtz will wear when team news drops at Deepdale.

Last summer, Slot predominantly started with a ‘first-choice XI’ at the start of friendlies in contrast to predecessor Jurgen Klopp’s more rotated approach.

It remains to be seen if that is something the Dutchman will stick with now he is a year into the job.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see who plays where when team news drops at Deepdale.

Of course, the trip to Preston is only going to be game one of another long season for Liverpool.

Any decisions Slot will make at Deepdale will not automatically be set in stone for the rest of the campaign.

But the friendly still offers a first glimpse at his new-look side as the head coach truly gets his fingerprints onto his side