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Just a few weeks ago, Liverpool seemed destined to claim back-to-back Premier League titles and potentially a further Champions League trophy. Their capacity to win despite not peak performances felt like the hallmark of genuine title-winners.

However, subsequently the tide shifted. Liverpool persisted with mediocre performances and began losing points. Meanwhile, Arsenal, renowned for their resolute backline and strength in depth, began narrowing the distance at the top.

Defining a Slump in Modern Football

Can a trio of consecutive losses constitute a collapse? Like most football debates, it depends completely on your definition of the central term. Was the United midfielder world class? What does "elite" actually mean? Are Aston Villa a major club? What constitutes "major"? Are Manchester United returned to prominence? Well, perhaps that is one we might settle.

For a club of Liverpool's size and last season's brilliance, a mini setback appears a fair assessment. During a radio show, former forward Neil Mellor was asked how many losses in a row would trigger alarm. His answer was six. Currently, they are halfway to that threshold.

Identifying the Tactical Issues

There are obvious footballing problems. Integrating new signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a distinct style to departed key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Likewise, incorporating a gifted playmaker like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the engine room. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a creative talent who improves those around him, connecting play seamlessly rather than forcing himself on the game.

Furthermore, a number of individuals who excelled last campaign—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now underperforming. Actually, most of the squad are. And they all share one significant, recent event: the passing of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Effect: Loss on the Field

It has been just over three months since the devastating loss of their friend. While the outside world progresses quickly, diverting attention to global matters, the club's players continue training and playing day after day in the absence of their mate.

This is impossible to gauge how every player and member of the backroom team is coping on any given day. It requires a great deal of speculation. Perhaps Salah failed to defend in a recent match simply he lacked energy. Or perhaps his performance level is down a few percentage points due to the fact he is grieving for his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke insightfully before a fixture, making a comparison to his personal experience of the loss of a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "The way they are doing this campaign is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after Jota's loss. I lived exactly the same experience when I was a player two decades past."

"It is difficult for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the coach when you arrive at the training ground and you see daily that spot vacant. So you must be very strong. And this is the explanation why for me they are doing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to handle a situation that is not easy."

Just as explained well on a well-known fan podcast, the reminders are ongoing. They hear his song in the 20th minute, they notice his unused peg in the dressing room. Even during matches, a through ball might be made and the realization arises: 'Oh, Jota would have been there.' If Salah was seen crying in front of the Kop a few games ago, it signals that all is not all right.

The Limits of Punditry and Personal Grief

After reporting on football for twenty years, one comes to believe there is a inherent lack of depth in most punditry. We genuinely do not know how an player is feeling at any given time and how that affects their play. Jota's death is one of the clearest illustrations. We are aware a terrible event occurred, and we comprehend the nature of sorrow. But further lies an immeasurable layer of effect on different people at the club. It is highly likely that some of the squad personally do not truly grasp its influence from one day to the next.

How the press reports on this and how supporters dissect displays is clearly far from the most important factor. On a functional level, mentioning Jota's passing is difficult to do in a short soundbite before transitioning to on-field issues. Outside of this specific event and outside Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to qualify each criticism of a footballer with an admission that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their parental relationships, personal struggles, or marital difficulties.

An ex- pro player, Nedum Onuoha, lately talked on a broadcast about how his mother's passing halfway through his playing days impacted his passion for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he said. "The high points and the low points that come with it didn't really feel the same any more." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three months.

The Final Thought

So, whatever Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—be it success or failure—whether or not we don't mention it whenever we discuss their matches, and even if it is not the sole reason for their eventual outcome, we must remember that a few weeks ago they suffered the loss of not just a brilliant player, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a friend.