Speaking after Scotland booked their place at the 2026 finals, Robertson said he found himself overwhelmed in the hours before kick-off, admitting he has struggled to process the loss of a player he regarded as “a brother.”

“I’ve tried to be strong, but it hits me at random moments,” Robertson admitted. “Before the game, I just kept thinking about Diogo. We used to talk constantly about playing at a World Cup together him for Portugal, me for Scotland and how much we wanted to experience that stage.

“He never got the chance last time because of injury. I didn’t qualify. And now… he’s not here. I still hear his voice sometimes. I miss him more than I’ve ever been able to say.”

Robertson’s words echo what many inside Liverpool privately admit: the squad is still struggling. The sudden summer car accident that killed Jota left a deep scar, and sources say several senior players have found it difficult to refocus this season.

Mohamed Salah, normally relentless, has looked subdued. Others have withdrawn into themselves, turning up, training hard, but operating “like ghosts,” according to one person close to the team.

Liverpool have continued to honour Jota at every turn. His dressing-room space at Anfield remains untouched. His peg at the AXA Training Centre has not been reassigned. Match day programs still list his name under the squad a symbolic gesture that teammates appreciate, even as some quietly admit it makes moving forward feel harder.

Robertson, one of the last Liverpool players to see Jota alive and a pallbearer at his funeral, said the squad is doing its best to support one another but are all at different stages emotionally.

“People expect footballers to switch on and off like machines,” he said. “But grief doesn’t follow a schedule. Some lads talk about him all the time, others don’t know what to say. There’s no right way.

“All I know is he was one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, and I want to make him proud.”

While Liverpool has stumbled through an inconsistent start to the season, critics have pointed to tactics, injuries, and rotation. But those around the club say there is an emotional undercurrent that rarely gets mentioned publicly.

“It’s not an excuse it’s reality,” one senior Melwood staff member said. “A huge part of the dressing room died with Diogo. Some players haven’t found their spark again.”

Robertson’s openness has been widely praised by mental-health advocates across football, who says emotional honesty from elite players can help change dressing-room culture.

But for Liverpool’s vice-captain, speaking out was less about making a statement and more about telling the truth.

“I’ll celebrate qualifying for the World Cup,” he said. “But I’ll always think about the mate who would have been the first to message me.

"He should still be here. And I’ll carry that with me forever.”