Frightened to return: Mo Salah’s heartbreak as Liverpool mourn Jota

Dubai: Five days after Diogo Jota’s shocking death, Liverpool players returned to training — grieving, subdued, and missing one of their brightest. Mohamed Salah, who admitted he was “frightened” to come back, led a group of solemn teammates into an emotional new chapter at the AXA Training Centre.

Salah, who shared a heartfelt tribute over the weekend, was among several players photographed arriving at the training facility on Tuesday. Floral tributes lined the gates of the centre and Anfield, as fans continued to honour the memory of Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva.

The Egyptian forward, who missed the funeral, confessed to being deeply shaken by Jota’s sudden passing.

“I am truly lost for words,” Salah was quoted as saying by Mail Online. “Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me about going back to Liverpool after the break. Teammates come and go, but not like this.

“It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we go back. My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children. Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten.”

Salah and Jota played 151 matches together at Liverpool, combining for 19 goals. Jota made 182 appearances for the Reds, scoring 65 goals and assisting 26 more. Since joining from Wolves in 2020, he had become a key figure under Jurgen Klopp and helped Liverpool win the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups.

Jota and Andre Silva died in a car crash around 12:30am on Thursday in the Spanish province of Zamora. Spanish police reported that their vehicle lost control during an overtaking attempt, suffered a tyre blowout, and caught fire.

The funeral took place on Saturday at the Matriz de Gondomar church, 33km from Porto. A large Liverpool delegation — including captain Virgil van Dijk, manager Arne Slot, and several teammates — travelled to Portugal to attend the service. Portuguese stars Ruben Neves, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva were also present.

Jota, 28, was a mainstay for both Liverpool and Portugal. He earned 49 caps for the national team and scored 14 goals. He had only recently helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League title in 2025, adding to his earlier triumph in 2019.

Liverpool’s pre-season was scheduled to begin last Friday, but the squad’s return was postponed in light of the tragedy. The club’s first friendly is slated for July 13 against Preston North End at Deepdale, though no official update has been given regarding whether the game will go ahead.

Meanwhile, Liverpool Women’s players Grace Fisk and Gemma Bonner paid tribute by laying flowers outside Anfield on behalf of the women's team.

For now, the mood at Liverpool remains one of mourning. Training may have resumed — but it’s clear the road ahead will be unlike any the Reds have walked before.