Alexis Mac Allister has dismissed suggestions Diogo Jota‘s death has led to Liverpool’s difficult season, insisting: “We can’t use that as an excuse.”
With Liverpool failing to build on their title-winning first season under Arne Slot, the grief felt after Jota’s tragic death is often pointed to as a key factor.
But speaking after the Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, Mac Allister insisted it was not the reason the Reds have struggled.
“It’s obvious that it was a difficult and challenging season,” he told Sport TV, per O Jogo.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister reacts during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“If you had asked me at the beginning of the season what I expected, I would have said that this team was there to fight and win competitions, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
“We have to keep working, because this year doesn’t do justice to the club.
“Of course, we remember Diogo Jota and it was a complicated period, but we can’t use that as an excuse.
“I don’t believe that’s why this year was so difficult for us.”
This comes after a discussion among pundits during Prime Video’s post-match coverage, with Daniel Sturridge arguing that footballers cannot be viewed as “robots.”
"Everybody grieves in different ways" ?
How big of an impact has the loss of Diogo Jota had on Liverpool this season? pic.twitter.com/QOjuMNlRr7
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
“Everybody’s journey dealing with grieving is different,” the former Liverpool striker said.
“We can’t take away from the fact that, just because these are professional footballers that are supposed to be robots, they’ve lost a friend, a family member, someone who they all dearly loved, as well as the fanbase.
“So as much as we want to talk about the performances and the psychology, the body language and all these types of things, everybody grieves in different ways.
“You can’t recover from something like that.”
In this handout image provided by Liverpool FC, players of Liverpool Football Club at the memorial of teammate Diogo Jota at Anfield on July 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. The Liverpool player and Portugal international Diogo Jota, 28, was killed in a car crash on July 03 in Zamora, Spain. He was travelling with his brother Andre Silva before returning to the UK for the start of the Premier League season. (Photo by Liverpool FC - Handout/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
It is clearly a difficult topic and one which will affect every player differently, but Mac Allister’s view is worth listening to as one of those directly impacted.
There is a feeling that Liverpool’s delayed and truncated pre-season has led to poor fitness throughout the squad – but that is harder to accept now eight months into the campaign.
Liverpool have struggled with many other factors this season, not least a questionable tactical outlook from Arne Slot along with the head coach’s use of his wider squad.
For Mac Allister to outrightly dismiss Jota’s death as an “excuse” highlights the frank discussions that may be required when the campaign is up.