Former Man City defender Nedum Onuoha has outlined why Liverpool’s players may be struggling with grief after Diogo Jota‘s death.The Portuguese’s tragic passing in July stunned the football world, with many wondering how much it would affect Arne Slot and his Reds players.Five wins in succession at the start of the Premier League season suggested all was well, but three consecutive losses may suggest otherwise, with performances unconvincing since August.• READ: What Virgil van Dijk has actually said about reasons for Liverpool’s “tough season”Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Onuoha discussed his own grief when his mother passed away, being able to relate to what Virgil van Dijk and his Liverpool teammates are going through."I didn't enjoy football as much" ??? @kickback_nedum opens up on how grief shaped his career – and how it could be affecting #LFC players#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/IBe8tW3QYr— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) October 5, 2025“I went through what I went through with my mother passing halfway through my career,” Onuoha said.“And to be honest, in the back half of my career, I didn’t enjoy football as much. Some of the highs and lows that come with it, they didn’t really feel the same any more.“I wasn’t as low as I would be if things were going wrong, like relegation and so on, and then promotions didn’t feel the same because I feel like I was missing someone who was sharing it. And that’s somebody outside of the workplace.“But where I struggled the most was in the quieter times, and those quieter times are when you’re reflecting on things like the games themselves.“For him (Van Dijk), having lost a good friend, you can’t go to the training ground and not feel that.“Especially when Jota might have been somebody that was really positive around people – maybe the type that people have a routine with together.“Maybe they want to talk to each other after games, maybe talk to each other during games, get hyped up and so on.“The trust they have, the belief they have, the connection that they have during games – you lose it and things do become difficult.“What I would say is that in my mind, I thought, if this was happening to me, you would say, ‘this is going to be a season for him (Jota).’“But that’s the best case scenario when you think this is just the start of the journey, and it ends up being a lot tougher.“You’ll always remember the player because the fans will sing his name in the 20th minute. You’ll also remember the fact that when you get to the training ground, nobody’s going to sit in his locker.“You’ll remember the fact that the number doesn’t exist anymore. You remember the moments in this stadium that he maybe had before.” This perfectly illustrates what a tough period it is for Liverpool’s players, even though some results may have masked it.It is still only three months since Jota’s death, which is no time at all in terms of a grieving process, so it is only natural that certain players will be struggling.Everyone handles grief differently, so some may be finding it harder than others, but Liverpool fans must accept the situation, providing fair but reasoned criticism this season.Defeats are always frustrating, especially three in a row, but only when the dust fully settles may we realise what a testing period this was for Slot and his squad.