Mikel Obi insists tragic loss of Diogo Jota is affecting Liverpool this season

Chelsea legend Mikel Obi has refused to criticize Liverpool despite their poor form recently as he insisted that the club is still suffering from the effect of Diogo Jota’s death, Softfootball reports.

The football world was thrown into shock as the news broke that Jota and brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in July.

Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk and Andy Robertson arrive at the funeral of Diogo Jota (Picture: Liverpool Media)

The Reds began the season well by winning their first five Premier League matches but their form has deeper in recent times as they have lost their last four matches against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United and Brentford.

However, speaking on his official podcast ‘ObiOne,’ Mikel believes Liverpool’s form is greatly affected by the demise of Jota. He said:

Let’s not forget that a massive tragedy happened at the club that nobody expected.

As footballers, we spend more time with our teammates than with our own families because we are together in the dressing room every single day.

Losing such a massive figure is always going to affect these players. It doesn’t matter how well they started the season or how talented they are – something like this hits you emotionally, and it stays with you. For me, whatever is happening at the club, the emotion is still very raw.

When you look at Mohamed Salah right now, who was very close to Jota, you can see that he is a shadow of his former self.

So, I think we need to be careful and a bit more understanding in the way we criticise this Liverpool team.

Here is a video of the podcast. Watch below.

🥹 ‘STILL DEALING WITH EMOTIONS’@mikel_john_obi is reluctant to stick the boot in on @LFC after five defeats in six.

And here’s why… pic.twitter.com/N5951fXxxC
— The Obi One Podcast (@obionepodcast) October 28, 2025

The major reason they won their first five Premier League matches was down to the good form of Hugo Ekitike, who arrived the club from Bundesliga outfit and hit the ground running with goals.

Alexander Isak (Photo Credit: Liverpool's Media) — Alexander Isak (Photo Credit: Liverpool’s Media)

But the arrival of Alexander Isak created a problem for Arne Slot as he couldn’t fit both huge money strikers in the same team and the creative supply was low because huge money signing, Florian Wirtz struggled for form.

Liverpool face Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup this weekend and would hope a return to winning ways could spark a revival in the Premier League where they are currently placed seventh with 15 points after nine matches.