BREAKING FROM ANFIELD! Live from the pitch, Arne Slot delivered a heart-wrenching tribute: “In the 87th minute after Chiesa’s goal, I turned to my bench and called his name to warm up… then I remembered he was no longer with us (tears). He was and is the only one who could save us in that kind of situation. We really lost a soldier. I’m always very sad when I remember he’s no longer here. He’s that player that wins you that kind of game.”

Arne Slot pays Diogo Jota tribute ahead of emotional Liverpool Premier League opener at Anfield

Arne Slot speaks exclusively to Patrick Davison about the tragic loss of Diogo Jota in a car crash in July; Liverpool held a minute’s silence before their fixture against Bournemouth on Friday; In the 20th minute, supporters sang Jota’s song

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Anfield pays tribute to Diogo Jota with emotional rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone

Of course, that’s true. It’s too devastating, too terrible and sudden a loss for a few words from anyone to make much difference.

But in the weeks since, he surely couldn’t have done any more to lead his club through the most challenging of circumstances.

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Arne Slot speaks on the resilience of the Liverpool team following the passing of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.

“(Diogo was) a good husband, an incredible dad for his children,” Slot emphasises to Sky Sports.

“Nothing compares to what Rute, his children and his parents are experiencing at this moment.

“The only thing I can say is the way the players have conducted themselves during this difficult time, the way our fans have shown respect for Diogo and his brother, has been incredible.”

Slot only worked with Jota for a season, but is able to speak about him as a player and a person in a way that captures perfectly why he was so loved and admired.

“He was always himself, players liked him because of that,” Slot says.

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Cody Gakpo paid tribute to his friend and team-mate Diogo Jota

“When we won the league against Tottenham, we were all together, I remember his young children were there, and one of his sons kept wanting to go to the dance floor and every time Diogo joined him – that tells you about the father he was.”

After initially just feeling sadness and loss, Slot says he is now able to feel some happiness when he sees a Jota goal or thinks about the way he lifted Liverpool’s dressing room.

It’s clear though that that getting back to the seemingly unimportant, trivial, day to day world of football has been and will continue to be incredibly tough.

“The first time we arrive for a session, the first time we play a game, the first time after 20 minutes they sing his song – all these things are difficult,” he says.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot spoke for the first time about Diogo Jota’s passing soon after it happened (credit: Liverpool FC)

“It’s been really difficult how to act for all of us. I’ve tried to say to the players ‘act like the person Diogo was’. He was always good with everyone.

“If you wanted to laugh you could laugh, to cry you could cry.

“He accepted everyone for the person he was. So let us be ourselves and not judge each other, whatever we feel.

“When things were difficult, Diogo helped the club, and me, but even before I arrived, so many times in difficult moments.

“So, we try to get the best out of ourselves, all become a bit Diogo in this difficult time and to act like he always did.”

Starting this season, Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games this season will be shown live on Sky Sports.