Beyond the floral tributes, banners, silences and songs, it is an empty space within the Anfield dressing room which serves as the most poignant reminder of a tragically lost team-mate as Liverpool begin their Premier League defence on Friday night.

No Liverpool player will approach the spot where Diogo Jota readied himself every match day. That is how it is at the Axa Training Centre, too, an unoccupied seat alongside Harvey Elliott becoming its own unplanned memorial, players and staff intuitively keeping a respectful distance.

New recruits can anticipate a polite tap on the shoulder should they naively venture into Jota’s space, aware that – just like the No 20 jersey – it must remain vacant.

At some point before the opening game against Bournemouth, and no doubt for the rest of th

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