Mohamed Salah frightened to return to Liverpool as fans mourn tragic Diogo Jota

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Well-wishers view flowers, scarves and shirts at a memorial set up close to Anfield football ground for their Portuguese forward Diogo Jota in Liverpool.

PHOTO: AFP

LONDON – Mohamed Salah said the death of Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota in a car crash had left him “frightened” to return to the club, as devastated fans swarmed to Anfield to pay their respects.

The 28-year-old Portugal forward and his younger brother Andre Silva, 25, died in the early hours of July 3 after their car veered off a motorway in Spain and burst into flames.

A wake for the siblings was first organised at a chapel in the Porto suburb of Gondomar ahead of their funeral on July 5 while fans in Liverpool were also in mourning.

Jota’s teammates have spoken of their struggle to comprehend his death, with captain Virgil van Dijk writing on Instagram that he was “absolutely devastated and in total disbelief”.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said that the Portuguese “will never be forgotten”.

Salah also shared his deep grief on social media, admitting he was dreading returning to the club.

“I am truly lost for words,” last season’s Premier League top scorer posted on Instagram.

“Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break. Teammates come and go but not like this. It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we go back.

“My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and