Slot: Words can't describe pain of Diogo Jota's death

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insists everyone associated with the club owes it to Diogo Jota to "stand together and be there for one another".

Slot said they were in "absolute shock" after the 28-year-old forward and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday.

"What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not," Slot said in a personal statement published on the club's website.

"All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.

"For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.

"We need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves."

Liverpool's "heartbroken" players have spoken of their pain in paying tribute to team-mate.

"Words can not describe how heartbroken and devastated we are… Your smile, your love for the game will never be forgotten," midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai wrote on X.

"We will miss you so much, but you will stay with us forever, on and off the pitch. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Rest in peace, brother."

Andy Robertson, one of the players with the longest association with Jota, paid an emotional tribute.

"The ones I'm thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear. I’m so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls – Diogo and Andre," he posted on Instagram.

"For the team and the club, we’ll try to cope with this together… however long that takes.

"For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy. I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now.

"It’s the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real.

"Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun. He was the most British foreign player I’ve ever met.

"I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye. It’s too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better."

Striker Darwin Nunez wrote: "There are no words of comfort for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field."

Harvey Elliott posted: "Diogo, I can’t believe you’re gone. It’s hard to put into words how much this hurts us.

"I feel so lucky to have shared the pitch with you, shared memories and moments I’ll carry with me forever. You’ll always be part of this team, part of the Liverpool family. We will never, ever forget you."

Fellow midfielder Curtis Jones wrote on X: "It’s hard to find the exact words how this feels. An unbelievable player & a great person to everyone.

"Grateful we shared so many memories on and off the pitch brother."

Luis Diaz said: "It hurts me to the core, not only for what he was on the field, but for what he was off it. "

"Heartbroken" former manager Jurgen Klopp, for whom his Christian faith has played a big part in his life, wrote on Instagram: "This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!"

Liverpool, who are supporting Jota’s family, have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday.

News of Jota’s death has sent shockwaves throughout world football. Wolves, who signed him from Atletico Madrid in 2017 before selling to Liverpool in 2020, probably summed up the player best.

"Diogo embodied our values at the club. He was so humble, so kind, so professional, but yet determined and hungry," said Matt Wild, director of football operations and administration who worked closely with Jota.

"To go to Liverpool at the age of 23 and go on to great success there, he’s won lots of trophies and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

"He left this club as a star, and he will always be a star in our eyes."