Liverpool miss Diogo Jota as a player and a person, says Arne Slot

Liverpool boss Arne Slot says his side miss Diogo Jota, both as a player and a person.

The Portuguese winger died in a car crash last summer at the age of 28.

His former Liverpool team-mate Andy Robertson said he had "been in bits" during the day on Tuesday, before Scotland secured their place at the 2026 World Cup with a thrilling victory over Denmark that night.

"I couldn't get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today," said Robertson.

"We spoke so much about going to the World Cup because he missed the last one with Portugal and I did with Scotland. I know he'll be smiling over me today."

Slot said: "I saw the interview [with Robertson] live and I know that it is an issue for us, which is completely normal.

"At this moment in time, I always think how must it feel for his wife and his children?

"It is so, so, so much harder for them than it is for us. But that we will miss the player and the person is completely clear."

The Reds have lost four of their past five matches in the Premier League, and were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City at Etihad Stadium before the international break.

That defeat left Liverpool eighth in the table, eight points behind league leaders Arsenal, before they welcome Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

In last season's league fixture away at Forest, Jota scored 22 seconds after coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw.

"Now we play Nottingham Forest, last season there we were 1-0 down and it only took him [Jota] one minute to score the equaliser. So now I am talking about the player that we miss for sure," said Slot.

"That we also miss him as a person is also clear."

Slot confirmed goalkeeper Alisson Becker is available again having been out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.

Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz are both unavailable for the visit of Forest with unspecified injuries.