Jota's Death Not Excuse for Form

Liverpool manager Arne Slot affirmed on Friday that the club will not use the death of forward Diogo Jota as a “get out of jail card” or an “excuse” for their recent dramatic slump of five defeats in six Premier League games.

Jota, who tragically passed away in a car crash in Spain in July, along with his brother, has clearly impacted the emotional well-being of the squad, a fact defender Andy Robertson recently highlighted.

Slot acknowledged the profound nature of the team’s grief, emphasising that the pain felt by Jota’s wife and children is exponentially greater.

Slot (News Central TV) — Slot says that Jota’s death is not an excuse for bad form. Credit: ESPN

However, the manager maintained that while the loss of the player and person is deeply felt, it is impossible to quantify its effect on their performance. Therefore, it will not be cited as a reason for their bad run.

Despite starting the season with seven straight wins, the champions now find themselves eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

Slot stated he is not focusing on the title defence but rather on the immediate task at hand: securing a crucial win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

In team news, goalkeeper Alisson Becker is ready to return, but the squad will be without Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz due to muscle injuries.

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.