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Beth Lindop
Liverpool manager Arne Slot stated it is “impossible to quantify” the effect of Diogo Jota’s passing on his squad, although he emphasized that the tragedy should not be used as a justification for the team’s recent struggles.
Liverpool’s defender Andy Robertson expressed that he has been “devastated” by Jota’s death ahead of Scotland’s 4-2 victory over Denmark, securing their spot in next year’s World Cup.
Robertson’s poignant comments have sparked conversations regarding the influence of grief on Liverpool’s disappointing form.
“At this moment, I often consider how Jota’s wife and children must feel. It’s far more difficult for them than for us. It’s clear that we will miss both the player and the person. I recall last season’s game against Nottingham Forest, where we were trailing 1-0, and it only took him [Jota] one minute to net the equalizer.”
“So we miss the player for sure, and it’s evident that we miss him as a person as well.”
The Dutch manager added: “It’s important for us to remember him at all times, as he was a remarkable person and player. It’s impossible to gauge the effect his absence has on our players and results. Using it as an excuse is the last thing I would do.”
“I can’t quantify the impact—it’s impossible for me to say. We certainly miss the player, and we miss the person, but we will never use this as a justification for our performance.”
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– Addressing Liverpool’s current challenges
Liverpool has suffered losses in seven of their last ten matches across all competitions but aims to recover as they host Nottingham Forest at Anfield this Saturday. Unfortunately, they will be missing Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley, who both incurred injuries during international duty.
“Andy Robertson has not participated in training yet, but he will be with us today,” Slot mentioned.
“Alisson [Becker] has trained both last week and this week, so he should be able to play tomorrow if all goes well today. If he’s fit, he will start. However, we do face some challenges following the international break. Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz will not be available, which is far from ideal.”