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Only a couple of weeks ago, Liverpool seemed destined to claim back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly another Champions League trophy. Their capacity to secure victories despite not optimal performances seemed like the hallmark of true title-winners.

But, then the momentum shifted. The Anfield side continued with mediocre performances and started losing matches. At the same time, Arsenal, known for their resolute backline and strength in depth, started narrowing the gap at the top.

Understanding a Slump in Today's Game

Does a trio of consecutive defeats constitute a collapse? Like many football debates, it hinges completely on your definition of the key term. Is Paul Scholes elite? What does "elite" actually mean? Is the Birmingham club a major team? What defines "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit returned to prominence? Well, maybe that's a question we can settle.

For a club of Liverpool's size and last season's excellence, a mini crisis appears a reasonable description. On a recent broadcast, former forward Neil Mellor was asked how many losses in a row would trigger panic. His reply was six. Currently, they are halfway to that threshold.

Pinpointing the Tactical Issues

There are obvious tactical issues. Integrating new additions 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 disrupted the midfield. Observers of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a technical player who elevates those around him, linking play seamlessly rather than imposing himself upon the game.

Furthermore, a number of individuals who shone last campaign—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently underperforming. Actually, most of the team are. And they all have one profound, recent event: the tragic death of their teammate and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Effect: Loss on the Pitch

It has been just over three months since the tragic passing of their friend. While the wider world progresses quickly, diverting focus to global events, Liverpool's squad carry on training and playing day after day without their friend.

It is impossible to know how every player and member of the backroom team is dealing from one day to the next. There is a significant amount of projection. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a particular match simply he lacked energy. But perhaps his form is down a small per cent due to the fact he is grieving for his friend.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke eloquently before a recent, making a parallel to his personal situation of losing a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this season is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after the loss. I went through exactly the same experience when I was a player two decades past."

"It is difficult for the players, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the coach when you come to the training ground and you find daily that place empty. So you must be incredibly resilient. And this is the reason why for me they are performing not well, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to handle a situation that is not easy."

As summarized well on a popular supporter's show, the reminders are constant. They are reminded by his song in the 20th minute, they notice his empty peg in the dressing room. In the middle of games, a pass might be made and the realization arises: 'Oh, Diogo would have reached that.' When the Egyptian was seen crying in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that all is not all right.

The Boundaries of Football Analysis and Human Emotion

After reporting on football for twenty years, one realizes there is a fundamental lack of depth in the majority of analysis. We simply cannot know how an player is coping at any specific time and how that affects their performance. Jota's passing is one of the clearest illustrations. We are aware a tragic event occurred, and we comprehend the concept of sorrow. But further lies an immeasurable layer of effect on various individuals at the club. It is highly likely that a few of the players personally don't fully grasp its influence from one moment to the next.

How the press covers this and how supporters dissect displays is clearly not the primary factor. On a practical level, mentioning Jota's death is difficult to accomplish in a brief soundbite before moving on to on-field issues. Outside of this specific tragedy and outside Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to qualify every critique of a player with an acknowledgment that we are largely ignorant about their personal lives—be it their family situation, personal struggles, or relationship problems.

An ex- pro footballer, Nedum Onuoha, recently spoke on a broadcast about how his mother's passing midway through his career impacted his love for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he said. "The highs and the lows that accompany it didn't really feel the same after that." And that was many years into his profession; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three months.

The Final Thought

Therefore, whatever Liverpool achieve in the coming months—if it's something or if it's nothing—even if we omit reference to it every time we discuss their matches, even if it isn't the cause for their eventual result, we should not forget that a short time ago they lost not merely a brilliant footballer, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a friend.