Liverpool Football Club (LFC) recently faced a tumultuous season in the English Premier League (EPL), transitioning from a dominant title-winning team to a squad grappling with significant challenges, including an unsettling eight losses from the last 11 games. Following a successful prior season, where they won the EPL title under a new coach, the team’s stark decline raised eyebrows among analysts and fans alike, leading to a myriad of theories attempting to account for this downturn.
One critical factor that has emerged in discussions around LFC’s performance is the emotional impact of grief following the tragic death of Diogo Jota, a key player in the team’s championship run. On July 3, 2025, Jota and his brother André tragically lost their lives in a car accident, leaving behind a devastated family and a grieving locker room. This event has seemingly cast a long shadow over the team’s morale and performance, yet its psychological ramifications have largely been overlooked in sports analyses, which instead focused on player acquisitions and tactical adjustments.
In the aftermath of Jota’s passing, emotional responses from teammates became evident. During the season opener against Bournemouth, LFC star striker Mohamed Salah was seen in tears as fans sang in memory of Jota. Fellow player Andy Robertson later voiced his ongoing struggles with the grief, revealing that the memory of Jota consistently impacted his performance and emotional state during games.
Grief is an all-consuming experience that can significantly affect cognitive functioning and emotional resilience, particularly for athletes operating at the highest competitive levels. Studies indicate that players often exhibit a decline in confidence and performance, especially when facing adversity in matches. The initial successes LFC achieved earlier in the season, including a strong start, may have been part of what researchers call “performance swings,” where athletes momentarily channel their emotions into success, only to struggle later.
The media’s portrayal of grief in sports often carries a triumphalist narrative, suggesting that athletes prevail in memory of their lost loved ones. However, as former golfer and researcher Katrina Douglas pointed out, this can misrepresent the complexity of grief, overlooking the emotional turmoil that often accompanies loss. This skewed narrative raises questions about how such profound experiences are integrated into the public understanding of professional athletics.
Furthermore, the dynamics within LFC highlight the contagious nature of grief—a phenomenon exacerbated among closely bonded teammates. Research shows that the collective grieving process can impose additional challenges, impacting team cohesion and individual performance. As the season progressed, analysts began to reassess the profound psychological toll of Jota’s loss on the club, suggesting that a more nuanced understanding of grief might have provided clearer insights into LFC’s performance trajectory.
As the season unfolds, LFC supporters and analysts will continue to observe how the team navigates the emotional landscape shaped by loss. Acknowledging the intricate relationship between grief and performance could ultimately foster resilience within the squad, helping them to reclaim their former glory on the pitch. While the journey ahead remains fraught with challenges, the collective strength in acknowledging and processing emotions may pave the way for eventual triumph.