Why Liverpool are playing in last season’s kit in pre-season friendly at Preston

Liverpool will still be sporting last season’s Premier League-winning jersey when they return to action at Preston North End in pre-season – and it is for a peculiar reason

Liverpool will return to action for the first time since winning the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, although all thoughts remain with the family of Diogo Jota following the tragic loss of the Reds forward on July 3.

The Reds are at Deepdale to take on Preston North End, with Arne Slot insisting that the club’s players will do all they can to honour Jota’s memory having been rocked by the passing of their team-mate.

Jota’s final appearance for Liverpool came in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on the final day of last season, after which he lifted the Premier League trophy and posed with it on the Anfield pitch alongside his wife Rute and three children.

The club have announced that Jota’s No.20 shirt will now be retired across all levels, including the women’s team and youth sides.

READ MORE: Liverpool vs Preston LIVE updates as tributes paid to Diogo Jota in first match since deathREAD MORE: Liverpool hand temporary squad numbers to six summer signings including Florian Wirtz

But as every other Premier League club are busy releasing their new kits for the season, on Sunday the Reds will be seen in the red Nike shirt that they won the title in during the last campaign.

This is because the club’s new kit deal with Adidas doesn’t come into effect until August 1, and so for now they will remain playing and training in Nike gear in order to honour the existing deal.

After facing Preston the Reds will take much of their pre-season preparations behind closed doors before heading on a pre-season tour of Japan where they will play AC Milan on July 26 and Yokohama F. Marinos on July 30, both in Nike kits.

They will then switch to Adidas apparel for their double-header pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on August 4, when they will play two matches. The Community Shield against Crystal Palace follows at Wembley on August 10, before the Reds kick off their Premier League defence at home to Bournemouth on August 15.

Liverpool have also confirmed temporary pre-season squad numbers for their six new signings, with decisions still to be made on the numbers they will wear once Premier League action kicks off.

For now, Giorgi Mamardashvili will wear No.55, Freddie Woodman No.56, Milos Kerkez No.57, Florian Wirtz No.58, Jeremie Frimpong No.59 and Armin Pecsi No.60.

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