Slot says Liverpool will never use Jota grief as ‘excuse’ for poor form

Arne Slot said on Friday that Liverpool would never use their grief over the death of Diogo Jota “as an excuse” for bad results as he seeks to arrest a shocking run of five defeats in six Premier League games.

Forward Jota, a father of three, was killed in a car crash in Spain in July, alongside his brother Andre Silva, with Liverpool retiring the number 20 shirt in his honour.

The champions started the season with seven straight wins in all competitions but are now eight points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal after their dramatic slump.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson said he could not get Jota “out of my head” in the hours before Scotland’s World Cup qualifying decider against Denmark this week, which they won.

Slot was asked on the eve of Liverpool’s home match against Nottingham Forest whether his team were being judged fairly, given the raw emotion over Jota’s death.

“I think we are always judged, sometimes fair, sometimes unfair, but I saw the interview (with Robertson) as well, live, and I know that it is an issue for us, which is, I think, completely normal,” said the Liverpool boss.

“But then, at these moments in time, I always think about how much it feels for his wife and his children, because that’s so, so, so, so much harder for them than it is for us. But that we miss the player and the person, that is completely clear.”

Slot said it was impossible to properly assess the impact of Jota’s death on performances or results.

“That’s impossible for me to say and we will never use it as an excuse because that doesn’t feel right,” he added.

Goalkeeper Allison Becker is fit again after weeks on the sidelines but Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz will miss the Forest match with muscle problems.

Slot, whose team are eighth in the Premier League, said that he was not thinking about Liverpool’s title defence.

“Actually, we didn’t do this last season as well, when we were top of the league,” said the Dutchman. “It’s just about the next game. 

“And I’ve said many times last season, and I say this season again as well, the best way to judge a league table is after 38 games, but the next best thing, in my opinion, is after 19 games.”