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A commentator for LFCTV has admitted to feeling “broken” after he couldn’t hold back the tears during the emotional scenes at the end of Liverpool’s friendly against Preston.
The Reds played their first game since the tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva on Sunday, with tributes paid to Liverpool’s No.20 throughout the pre-season encounter at Deepdale.
Arne Slot’s side would go on to ease to a 3-1 win thanks to goals from Conor Bradley, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, with the latter pair paying their own special tributes to Jota as they replicated his iconic celebrations.
It proved to be a hugely emotional day for all involved at Deepdale the hosts paid their own tribute with a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before kick-off as Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in front of the away section.
The traveling supporters would go on to sing Jota’s name throughout the game, with Liverpool’s players gathering in front of them at full-time to take in the emotional scenes.
Virgil van Dijk could be seen consoling Nunez during the tribute, while Andy Robertson had to turn away as he broke down in tears, with the left-back having been close friends with Jota.
And it proved to be just as emotional for those in the stands. Commentating on the game for LFCTV alongside former Reds defender Gary Gillespie, John Bradley struggled to hold back the tears.
“Thanks for all the lovely messages. Hardest commentary I’ve ever done in my life,” Bradley wrote on X after the game.
“Hope we gave you a feeling of how special it was to be at Deepdale today. I feel a bit broken now and am sorry for the tears, but in that moment, it couldn’t be helped.”
Bradley was far from the only person in tears on an emotional day for all involved with Liverpool after what has been a difficult couple of weeks for the club.
The Reds have now confirmed Jota's number 20 jersey will be retired at all levels at the club, with Slot opening up on his message to his players as they returned to action.
"What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate," Slot said ahead of the game.
"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 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. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train. But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you."
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