Liverpool missing Diogo Jota both on and off the pitch, says manager Arne Slot as Reds prepare to face Nottingham Forest in Premier League

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has spoken candidly about the profound impact of losing winger Diogo Jota, highlighting the void the Portuguese forward has left both on and off the pitch.

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Jota tragically died in a car accident last summer at the age of 28. Slot reflected on the emotional toll his passing has taken on the squad, noting that the loss is particularly acute for Jota’s family.

“I saw the interview [with Andy Robertson] live and I know that it is an issue for us, which is completely normal,” Slot said.

“At this moment in time, I always think about how it must feel for his wife and his children. It is so, so, so much harder for them than it is for us. But that we will miss the player and the person is completely clear.”

Liverpool have struggled in the Premier League, losing four of their last five matches and suffering a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City before the international break.

The result left the Reds eighth in the table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

Slot also recalled Jota’s decisive moments on the pitch, including last season’s fixture at Nottingham Forest, where the winger scored within 22 seconds of coming on as a substitute to equalise a 1-1 draw.

“Now we play Nottingham Forest… it only took him one minute to score the equaliser. So now I am talking about the player that we miss for sure,” Slot said.

The Liverpool manager confirmed that goalkeeper Alisson Becker is fit and available after a six-week absence with a hamstring injury.

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Meanwhile, Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz remain unavailable for the Forest match due to unspecified injuries.