Andrew Robertson reveals Diogo Jota tragedy’s impact on Liverpool squad

Liverpool’s response to the death of Diogo Jota in 2025 reshaped the club’s season, with Andrew Robertson describing a dressing room that struggled to give football its usual priority after losing a close friend. The emotional impact followed Liverpool’s Premier League title win and disrupted the preparations for their attempt to defend it.

What changed for Liverpool

Arne Slot gave players considerable freedom during the pre-season period, with routine training effectively set aside and members of the squad allowed to miss sessions as they dealt with the loss. Liverpool’s title defence subsequently deteriorated, ending with a fifth-place Premier League finish rather than another championship challenge.

Slot left his post during the following summer transfer window. His departure came after a campaign in which the group’s competitive level had fallen sharply amid the wider grief at the club.

New arrivals Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz joined an unsettled squad and required months to find their footing. Robertson said he felt for players arriving for major fees only to enter a club in mourning, making their adjustment especially difficult.

Robertson said the players’ focus had inevitably changed after Jota’s death. He recalled that football did not feel important to the squad after the loss of “one of our best mates” in the dressing room, and said the group at times questioned the purpose of competing while Jota’s family, including his children, faced such grief.

The Scotland international had attended Jota’s wedding only a week before his death. Robertson said the contrast between seeing his teammate on one of the happiest days of his life and then witnessing the effect on his family was exceptionally hard to process.

Competition context

Liverpool had been Premier League champions before the tragedy, but their disrupted campaign ended outside the Champions League places in fifth. The consequences extended beyond results, affecting training, squad integration and the mood around Anfield.

The club used psychologists to hold small-group conversations, including informal meetings over coffee, while Slot provided time and space for players to manage the situation. Robertson said Liverpool came through the period collectively, determined to remember Jota while accepting that competitive football still had to continue.

Liverpool have since rebuilt and begun the current Premier League season without defeat. They are sixth in the table and seeking to move higher after putting the previous season’s difficulties behind them.

Robertson is no longer part of that Liverpool squad, having moved to Tottenham Hotspur. His start in north London has been challenging, with Spurs collecting only two points from their first five league matches.

What is scheduled next

• Liverpool will look to extend their unbeaten Premier League opening and improve on sixth place.
• Tottenham, with Robertson now in their squad, need a first significant turnaround after taking two points from five fixtures.
• No specific upcoming fixture or date was confirmed.