Liverpool’s performances this season must be viewed through the lens of the devastating tragedy that befell the squad last summer, a heartfelt plea from former goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has asserted.
In an emotional interview, Kelleher, a close friend of the late Diogo Jota, stated that football has become secondary for his former teammates as they continue to grieve, and he expressed frustration at external criticism of the team’s form.
The football world was shattered in July 2025 by the deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, in a car accident in northern Spain.
Jota, a 28-year-old father of three who had married his long-term partner less than two weeks prior, was a beloved figure at Liverpool and across the sport.
Tributes poured in from all corners, with former manager Jürgen Klopp describing the news as “a moment where I struggle” and expressing a feeling of heartbreak.
Kelleher, who shared a particularly close bond with Jota and attended his wedding in Portugal just days before the accident, has now spoken about the profound and lingering impact on the Liverpool dressing room.
Having moved to Brentford in the summer, Kelleher acknowledged that physical distance has perhaps made his own processing of the loss slightly easier compared to those who remain at the club’s training ground every day.
“It’s a very difficult time for them, a difficult season, with circumstances that people probably aren’t taking into account too much,” Kelleher said.
“I find it a bit strange and a bit difficult when I hear people speaking about the players at Liverpool and the performances, because I don’t think this season is even important from a football aspect for them to be honest. It’s more about them personally and mentally.”
He added that the expectation to “move on quite quickly” does not match the reality of grief.
His comments echo the sentiments of Klopp, who recently penned a moving tribute to Jota, recalling a player who was “humble and authentic” and who made people smile simply by hearing his name.
Klopp reflected that in Jota, “people saw the very best of themselves,” a testament to his widespread affection. The emotional weight was palpable during Liverpool’s final match of 2025 against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jota’s former club, a fixture described as “poignant” irrespective of the result.
Kelleher’s own tribute on social media in the wake of the tragedy painted a picture of a deep friendship, recalling shared laughs over sports like darts and horse racing, and competitive pre-match quizzes.
He described Jota as “a very fun, honest, normal, simple and family-loving man”. Now, from his new perspective, Kelleher is urging a more compassionate view of a team and a group of individuals still navigating an unimaginable loss, suggesting that the metrics of league tables and match results feel trivial in comparison.