Preston North End 1-3 Liverpool: Darwin Nunez dedicates celebration to late team-mate Diogo Jota as Reds dispatch Championship opponents in pre-season friendly

Liverpool professionally navigated their opening pre-season friendly, seeing off Preston North End to win 3-1 and begin their summer preparations on a positive note.

Conor Bradley opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, pouncing on a loose touch by Dominik Szoboszlai, who got on the end of Federico Chiesa’s low cross.

Darwin Nunez doubled the Premier League champions’ lead on the other side of half-time, and paid a touching tribute to the late Diogo Jota with his celebration.

After finding the back of the net in the 53rd minute, the Uruguay international wheeled off to the corner flag, sat down, and pretended to play on a video game remote – his old team-mate’s signature move.

Arne Slot‘s men failed to keep a clean sheet against their Championship opponents, conceding in the 83rd minute when Preston defender Liam Lindsay rifled a header in from a corner.

But Cody Gakpo put any chance of a shock comeback out of reach, scoring Liverpool’s third in the 88th minute. The Reds next suit up on July 26 when they face AC Milan.