Darwin Nunez Leads Liverpool’s Emotional Win at Preston

Darwin Nunez opened the floodgates and set the tone for a poignant afternoon at Deepdale, where Liverpool defeated Preston North End 3-1 in their first outing since the tragic passing of Portuguese forward Diogo Jota.

Darwin Nunez Shines in Five-Goal Showcase

The match, officially a pre-season friendly, carried the weight of a testimonial. Darwin Nunez needed only seven minutes to register the opener, smashing home from 12 yards after Mohamed Salah’s cut-back. The Uruguayan pointed skyward in an immediate, heartfelt salute to Jota, triggering waves of applause that rolled around the stadium.

Cody Gakpo Doubles the Advantage

Liverpool’s fluid front three soon carved Preston open once more. Trent Alexander-Arnold, operating in a hybrid midfield role, released Curtis Jones between the lines; the academy graduate squared for Cody Gakpo, who rifled low beyond Freddie Woodman. Like Nunez, Gakpo crossed his wrists in Jota’s signature celebration before embracing teammates.

Preston Pull One Back Before the Break

Ryan Lowe’s side refused to surrender the script entirely. Striker Emil Riis Jakobsen pounced on a rare defensive lapse by Ibrahima Konaté, curling high into the far corner to offer the Championship club a lifeline and remind Liverpool that pre-season rust still lingers.

Darwin Nunez Headlines Second-Half Rotations

Arne Slot, overseeing his second game since replacing Jürgen Klopp, rotated heavily at half-time, introducing 11 substitutes. Darwin Nunez remained the constant spearhead until the hour mark, and the striker nearly grabbed a second—clipping the bar with an audacious lob—before making way for 17-year-old forward Trey Nyoni.

Slot’s Tactical Tweaks on Display

Under Slot, Liverpool pressed higher and narrower, with Alexis Mac Allister orchestrating from deep and Harvey Elliott drifting centrally. The shape allowed full-backs Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas to overlap at will, stretching Preston’s compact block and creating pockets for Nunez to exploit. The approach paid dividends in possession numbers; Liverpool enjoyed 71 % of the ball and completed 606 passes, evidence that Slot’s positional style is already embedding.

Third Goal Caps the Tribute

The decisive third arrived via a set-piece on 73 minutes. Elliott’s outswinging corner met the towering head of youngster Jarell Quansah, whose effort ricocheted off Preston skipper Alan Browne and over the line. While the dubious-goals panel may credit an own goal, Anfield’s travelling contingent celebrated as though Jota himself had applied the finishing touch.

Diogo Jota Remembered Throughout the Afternoon

The emotional heft of the fixture was impossible to ignore. Liverpool’s squad warmed up in shirts emblazoned with “Jota 20,” and a minute’s silence preceded kick-off, broken only by chants of the Portuguese forward’s name from both sets of supporters. Preston’s scoreboard displayed a black-and-white portrait of Jota for the full 90 minutes, while the club donated match-day proceeds to a charity chosen by his family.

Quotes from the Touchline

Slot admitted post-match: “We wanted to honour Diogo by playing with courage and joy—that’s how he lived the game. Darwin Nunez set the standard by pressing, scoring and celebrating exactly the way our friend would have loved.” Preston boss Lowe echoed the sentiment: “Today was about more than football. Credit to Liverpool for making it a fitting tribute.”

Player Ratings at a Glance

• Darwin Nunez – 8.5/10: Relentless energy, clinical finish, led the homage.
• Cody Gakpo – 8/10: Intelligent movement, composed strike, creative link-ups.
• Alexis Mac Allister – 7.5/10: Dictated tempo, accurate distribution.
• Emil Riis Jakobsen – 7/10: Took goal superbly, constant outlet for Preston.
• Freddie Woodman – 6.5/10: Several solid stops, helpless for the goals.

Match Statistics

Possession: Liverpool 71 % – 29 % Preston
Shots (on target): 19 (9) – 8 (3)
Expected Goals: 2.7 – 0.9
Corners: 10 – 4
Fouls: 12 – 9

What the Result Means for Liverpool

Beyond the emotional victory, Liverpool gained valuable minutes for 22 players, saw Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo sharpen their scoring instincts, and witnessed promising cameos from academy starlets Trey Nyoni, James McConnell and Bobby Clark. Slot’s men now fly to Maryland for a glamour friendly against AC Milan, where further tests of his high-press philosophy await.

What’s Next for Preston

Preston resume Championship preparations with fixtures against Blackburn and Tranmere. Lowe will take comfort from spells of competitive play and Riis Jakobsen’s sharpness, but defensive rigidity must improve before the season curtain-raiser against Swansea.

A Personal Take

Football occasionally pauses its tribal rhythms to remind us of shared humanity. Saturday’s scenes at Deepdale showcased exactly that—rival colours united in grief and celebration. Darwin Nunez supplied the tangible moments, but Diogo Jota’s spirit was the day’s true match-winner.