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Only a couple of weeks back, the Merseyside club appeared set to secure back-to-back Premier League championships and potentially another Champions League trophy. The team's ability to secure victories despite not peak performances felt like the mark of true title-winners.

But, then the momentum turned. The Anfield side persisted with mediocre showings and began losing points. At the same time, Arsenal, renowned for their stubborn defense and strength in depth, started closing the distance at the summit.

Defining a Crisis in Modern Football

Does three consecutive defeats constitute a collapse? Like most sporting discussions, it hinges entirely on your interpretation of the key term. Is Paul Scholes world class? How do you define "elite" actually signify? Is the Birmingham club a big team? What defines "major"? Are Manchester United returned to prominence? Alright, maybe that is a question we might settle.

At a team of Liverpool's size and last season's excellence, a mini setback seems a reasonable assessment. On a recent broadcast, former forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would trigger alarm. His answer was six. At present, they are midway to that threshold.

Pinpointing the Tactical Problems

One can observe clear footballing problems. Assimilating new additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct skill set to previous stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Likewise, incorporating a gifted attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the engine room. Experts of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a creative player who improves those around him, connecting play seamlessly rather than forcing himself on the game.

Furthermore, a host of individuals who shone last season—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently below their best. In fact, the majority of the squad is. Yet every one of them share one profound, recent experience: the tragic death of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Loss on the Field

It has been just over three short months since the tragic passing of their friend. Although the wider world progresses rapidly, diverting attention to other matters, Liverpool's squad continue training and playing day after day without their mate.

This is not possible to know how each player and member of the backroom team is coping from one day to the next. There is a great deal of projection. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a particular match because he lacked energy. Or maybe his performance level is down a small per cent because he misses his friend.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a fixture, drawing a comparison to his own situation of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "The way they are performing this campaign is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after Jota's loss. I went through exactly the same thing when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It's not easy for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the coach when you come to the training ground and you find daily that place vacant. So you have to be very strong. And this is the explanation why for me they are performing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to deal with a situation that is not easy."

As explained well on a well-known fan podcast, the reminders are ongoing. They hear his song in the first half, they notice his unused locker in the dressing room. In the middle of games, a through ball might be played and the thought arises: 'Ah, Jota would have been there.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a matches ago, it signals that all is far from normal.

The Limits of Football Analysis and Personal Grief

After covering football for twenty years, one realizes there is a inherent lack of depth in the majority of analysis. We simply cannot know how an individual is coping at any specific moment and how that affects their performance. Jota's death is one of the most stark illustrations. We are aware a terrible event occurred, and we understand the nature of grief. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of effect on different individuals at the organization. It is highly likely that a few of the squad personally do not truly grasp its influence from one moment to the next.

How the media covers this and how supporters analyze performances is obviously far from the primary factor. On a practical basis, mentioning Jota's passing is challenging to accomplish in a brief soundbite before transitioning to tactical concerns. Outside of this specific event and outside Liverpool, it would seem strange to qualify every critique of a footballer with an admission that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their family situation, personal struggles, or relationship problems.

An ex- pro player, Nedum Onuoha, lately spoke on radio about how his mother's death halfway through his playing days impacted his passion for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he said. "Some of the highs and the lows that accompany it no longer felt the same after that." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three months.

The Final Thought

Therefore, regardless of what Liverpool achieve in the coming months—if it's something or failure—whether or not we omit reference to it whenever we discuss their fixtures, and even if it is not the sole reason for their eventual result, we must remember that a few weeks ago they lost not merely a exceptional player, but, more importantly, they said goodbye to a dear friend.