Liverpool manager Arne Slot encourages his players to embrace their emotions as they cope with the tragic loss of teammate Diogo Jota.
Portuguese forward Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, passed away in a car accident on July 3 in Zamora, Spain.
The Reds will play their first pre-season friendly since Jota's passing against Preston North End at 15:00 BST on Sunday.
In his first interview following Jota's death, Slot told Liverpool TV, "If we want to laugh, we laugh; if we want to cry, we're going to cry. If they want to train, they can train; if they don't want to train, they don't have to. Be yourself, and don't feel the need to act differently than your emotions dictate.
"We will forever carry him in our hearts and thoughts, wherever we go."
The brothers' funeral was held last Saturday in their hometown of Gondomar, attended by a large Liverpool delegation, including Slot.
Floral tributes have been laid at Anfield, where Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso, family members, and the Liverpool squad gathered on Friday to pay their respects.
Liverpool has retired Jota's number 20 shirt across all teams in "honor and memory" of the former Wolves forward.
Several tributes are planned for the Preston game, including a pre-match rendition of Liverpool's anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" and a minute's silence, with both teams wearing black armbands.
"Nothing seems important when we reflect on the tragedy," said Slot. "But as a football club, we must train and play again, whether we want to or not.
"I told the players, and I'll say it here: it's challenging to find the right words because we constantly question what is appropriate. What actions are suitable? What words should we say? Can we train again? Can we laugh? Can we be upset over a wrong decision?
"I suggested we handle this situation as Jota would. Jota was always himself, whether speaking to me, his teammates, or the staff. So, let's try to be ourselves too."
Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, contributing to their FA Cup and League Cup victories in 2022 and their Premier League title last season.
He played his final match for Portugal, scoring in their win against Spain in the Nations League final on June 8. He netted 14 goals in 49 international appearances.
The Guardia Civil informed BBC Sport that Jota and his brother died after their Lamborghini left the road due to a tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle.
The brothers were en route to the Spanish port of Santander for Jota's return to Liverpool for pre-season training.
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