“As arduous because it was to do it, I needed to push myself to give attention to what my job and function was. I attempted to do it as finest as I might, nevertheless it was tough and I’m not going to lie about that.

“[Jota] was one in every of my shut buddies – and I’m positive that is what he would have needed me to do. I am positive we’d have had fun and joke concerning the help as properly. He was there with me, I’m positive.”

Alexander-Arnold stated the Portuguese ahead was “somebody who lit up the room when he was in it”.

“I shared the dressing room with him for 5 years – superb recollections on and off the pitch,” he added.

“It goes with out saying he won’t ever be forgotten by anybody. He’ll dwell lengthy in all our recollections for the superb man and the participant he was.”

Alexander-Arnold stated it had been “very emotional and heartwarming to see the footballing world come collectively to point out their love and assist for [Jota], his brother and their household”.

“I have been round him, his brother, his household, his superb spouse, his superb dad and mom and his superb kids. It is actually, actually heartbreaking to get up to information like that,” added the England worldwide.

“It is one thing you by no means count on.”

Actual Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe was among the many gamers who paid tribute to Jota on Saturday, with the France ahead indicating quantity 20 after scoring an acrobatic late purpose, in recognition of Jota’s Liverpool shirt quantity.

Frenchman Ousmane Dembele additionally paid a tribute to the Portuguese by copying his Fifa gaming celebration after sealing a 2-0 win for Paris St-Germain in opposition to Bayern Munich, which arrange a last-four assembly with Actual Madrid.