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Only a few weeks ago, the Merseyside club appeared set to secure back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly a further Champions League trophy. Their ability to secure victories despite not optimal performances seemed like the hallmark of genuine champions.

However, subsequently the tide turned. Liverpool continued with mediocre showings and began losing points. At the same time, the North London club, known for their stubborn backline and strength in depth, began closing the gap at the summit.

Understanding a Crisis in Modern Football

Can a trio of consecutive losses constitute a collapse? As with most sporting discussions, it hinges entirely on your interpretation of the key term. Was the United midfielder world class? What does "world class" even signify? Is the Birmingham club a big club? What constitutes "major"? Are Manchester United back? Alright, perhaps that's one we can settle.

At a team of this club's stature and last season's excellence, a mini setback seems a reasonable assessment. On a recent broadcast, former forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many defeats in a row would trigger panic. His reply was six. Currently, they are halfway to that point.

Pinpointing the On-Pitch Problems

One can observe obvious footballing problems. Integrating new signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct skill set to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Likewise, blending in a gifted attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the midfield. Observers of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a creative player who improves those beside him, connecting play effortlessly rather than forcing himself on the game.

Additionally, a host of players who excelled last campaign—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently below their best. Actually, the majority of the squad is. And every one of them have one significant, recent event: the tragic death of their colleague and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Grief on the Pitch

We are now just more than three short months since the tragic passing of their teammate. While the wider world moves on rapidly, diverting focus to other matters, Liverpool's squad continue going to work day after day in the absence of their mate.

It is impossible to gauge how every individual and staff member is coping on any given day. There is a significant amount of projection. Perhaps Salah failed to defend in a particular match because he was tired. But perhaps his form is down a small percentage points because he misses his friend.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented eloquently before a fixture, drawing a parallel to his personal situation of the loss of a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "The way they are performing this campaign is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after Jota's loss. I went through a very similar thing when I was a player two decades past."

"It is difficult for the squad, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the coach when you come to the training ground and you find every day that place vacant. So you have to be very strong. And this is the reason why for me they are performing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are attempting to handle a problem that is not easy."

Just as summarized well on a well-known supporter's show, the reminders are ongoing. They are reminded by his chant in the first half, they notice his unused peg in the changing room. Even during games, a pass might be played and the thought arises: 'Ah, Diogo would have been there.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a few games ago, it signals that everything is far from all right.

The Limits of Football Analysis and Human Emotion

Having covering football for twenty years, one comes to believe there is a fundamental lack of depth in most punditry. We simply cannot know how an individual is coping at any specific time and how that impacts their performance. Jota's passing is one of the most stark illustrations. We know a tragic thing occurred, and we comprehend the concept of sorrow. But further lies an intangible layer of impact on different individuals at the club. It is very possible that some of the squad personally do not fully grasp its effect from one day to the next.

How the press covers this and how supporters dissect performances is clearly not the most important factor. On a functional basis, bringing up Jota's death is challenging to accomplish in a short soundbite before moving on to tactical issues. Beyond this specific event and outside Liverpool, it would seem strange to preface each critique of a player with an admission that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their parental relationships, health challenges, or marital problems.

A former pro player, the defender, recently talked on radio about how his mother's death midway through his career affected his love for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he said. "Some of the high points and the low points that accompany it no longer felt the same any more." And that was many years into his profession; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three short months.

The Final Thought

Therefore, whatever Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—be it success or failure—even if we don't mention it every time we discuss their matches, and even if it isn't the cause for their final result, we should not forget that a short time ago they suffered the loss of not merely a brilliant footballer, but, more importantly, they said goodbye to a dear friend.