Liverpool continue post-Jota trauma counselling amid Szoboszlai confusion

But according to an Anfield source familiar with the matter, the club organised a range of group and individual counselling services on a voluntary basis following the accident in which Jota (28) and his brother André Silva (25) perished on a Spanish motorway last July.

It's understood that access to specialist international grief counsellors was among the supports made available.

In an interview with France Football last month, Hungary captain Szoboszlai (25) explained how Liverpool's squad struggled to cope with the sudden loss of their beloved Portuguese colleague and friend.

"At the start of the season we used the trauma as a motivation, but that was very heavy to carry," Liverpool's official Player of 2025-26 reflected.

"Me, I played the season giving it my all because I told myself that's what he [Jota] would have wanted from each of us.

"But it was really difficult since I believe everyone was saying to themselves: 'How could something like this happen to someone like him?'

"This incomprehension, this difficulty coming to terms with what happened, that was complicated to understand. The thing is, we never spoke about it among ourselves."

Szoboszlai repeated the word "never" before continuing; "Each of us took this tragedy deep within himself, and I don't know if that was a good thing, because none of us were able to express our feelings to the group.

"I don't know what should have been done - we'll never know."

This part of the interview - conducted in English by a French journalist and published in French under the headline "I've Too Much Ego, It's My Fuel" - is believed to have surprised Liverpool, who had no issue with Szoboszlai sitting down with France Football in Budapest.

But it's felt that, whereas his choice of words might suggest there was no opportunity for group grieving and discussion, this was not in fact the case.

When approached for clarification, Szoboszlai said through his representative he would prefer not to comment any further beyond what he shared in the interview.

New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, whose Bournemouth team were the first opponents to visit Anfield in a competitive match following the Jota tragedy at the start of last season, is said to be acutely aware of the emotional upheaval which has affected the club.