LIVERPOOL: 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 honor.
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 defense.
“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.”
Slot says Liverpool will never use Jota grief as ‘excuse’ for poor form
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Slot says Liverpool will never use Jota grief as ‘excuse’ for poor form
- The champions started the season with seven straight wins in all competitions but are now eight points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal
- Liverpool boss Arne Slot, whose team are eighth in the Premier League, said that he was not thinking about team’s title defense
Barca suffer title defense blow in Girona derby defeat
- Girona ended the game with 10 men when Roca scythed down Yamal to cut short a desperate Barca attack deep in stoppage time
GIRONA, Spain: Spanish champions Barcelona fell to a damaging 2-1 defeat at Girona on Monday to leave them trailing Real Madrid by two points at the top of La Liga.
Los Blancos beat Real Sociedad on Saturday to overtake the Catalans and Hansi Flick’s side could not defeat Girona in an gripping derby clash to reclaim the lead.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal missed a penalty for Barcelona, who took the lead through defender Pau Cubarsi just before the hour mark.
However goals from Thomas Lemar and Fran Beltran helped Girona, 12th, mount an impressive comeback.
“We have to improve because they can’t score these two goals against us,” Cubarsi told DAZN.
“We have to be self-critical, we didn’t play a great game, we have to improve, but now we have to rest and charge our batteries.”
Both sides were attacking with abandon in the first half and it was remarkable they went in goalless at the break.
Raphinha whipped a shot narrowly wide and Yamal fired straight at Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga when through on goal.
At the other end Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat missed a slew of presentable opportunities.
Ferran Torres fired a good chance wide for Barca and Raphinha drove against the upright as Flick’s side pushed for the opener.
They should have got it when Dani Olmo was clumsily felled in the box by Daley Blind, but Yamal hit the post from the spot.
Barcelona eventually took the lead through Pau Cubarsi’s header from Jules Kounde’s cross after 59 minutes, but Girona swiftly pulled level.
Thomas Lemar slipped away from Eric Garcia and turned home Vanat’s pass from close range.
It shifted the momentum in Girona’s favor and Barca were left relying on some stunning saves from goalkeeper Joan Garcia to keep them afloat.
The stopper denied Ivan Martin and Vanat with a remarkable double save, and then thwarted Joel Roca with his leg.
Barca could not stem the tide and Girona forced their way in front after 87 minutes, with Fran Beltran stroking home from the edge of the area.
The visitors, who last week made an official complaint to the Spanish football federation over perceived refereeing inconsistencies, were left fuming after Kounde was fouled by Claudio Echeverri in the build-up and it went unpunished.
Girona ended the game with 10 men when Roca scythed down Yamal to cut short a desperate Barca attack deep in stoppage time.
It did the job and the hosts celebrated wildly at the end with their jubilant fans at Montilivi, as Flick demanded explanations from the referee.
“It seemed like a foul (on Kounde) to me, but we shouldn’t focus on decisions we can’t control,” said Barca defender Gerard Martin.
