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Only a few weeks back, Liverpool seemed destined to secure back-to-back Premier League championships and possibly another Champions League trophy. The team's ability to win despite not peak performances felt like the mark of genuine champions.

But, then the momentum shifted. The Anfield side persisted with mediocre performances and started losing points. Meanwhile, Arsenal, renowned for their resolute defense and squad depth, started narrowing the distance at the summit.

Defining a Slump in Today's Game

Can a trio of consecutive losses represent a crisis? As with most sporting discussions, it hinges completely on your definition of the central word. Is Paul Scholes world class? What does "world class" actually mean? Is the Birmingham club a major club? What constitutes "big"? Are Manchester United returned to prominence? Alright, maybe that is a question we can settle.

At a team of Liverpool's stature and last season's excellence, a minor setback seems a fair assessment. During a broadcast, ex- forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would trigger panic. His answer was six. Currently, they are halfway to that point.

Identifying the Tactical Issues

One can observe obvious footballing problems. Assimilating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct skill set to departed key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Similarly, blending in a gifted attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the engine room. Observers of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a creative player who elevates those around him, connecting play seamlessly rather than forcing himself on the game.

Furthermore, a number of players who shone last campaign—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now underperforming. Actually, the majority of the squad are. And they all have one significant, fresh experience: the tragic death of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Loss on the Field

We are now just over three short months since the devastating passing of their friend. Although the outside world moves on rapidly, shifting focus to other events, Liverpool's squad continue going to work day after day without their friend.

It is impossible to gauge how every player and member of the backroom team is coping on any given day. It requires a significant amount of projection. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a particular match because he was tired. Or maybe his form is down a small per cent because he is grieving for his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a recent, making a parallel to his personal situation of the loss of a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "The way they are doing this campaign is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after the tragedy. I lived exactly the same thing 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 manager when you arrive at the training ground and you see daily that spot empty. So you must be incredibly resilient. And this is the explanation why for me they are doing not well, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to deal with a situation that is not easy."

Just as summarized succinctly on a popular fan podcast, the memory triggers are ongoing. The players are reminded by his song in the 20th minute, they notice his unused peg in the changing room. In the middle of matches, a pass might be made and the realization arises: 'Oh, Diogo would have reached that.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that all is far from normal.

The Limits of Football Analysis and Personal Grief

Having reporting on football for two decades, one realizes there is a fundamental superficiality in most punditry. We genuinely do not know how an player is feeling at any specific moment and how that impacts their play. Jota's death is one of the clearest examples. We know a tragic event occurred, and we understand the nature of grief. Beyond that lies an intangible layer of impact on various individuals at the organization. It is highly likely that some of the players personally don't truly grasp its effect from one day to the next.

The way the press covers this and how fans dissect displays is obviously far from the primary factor. On a practical basis, bringing up Jota's death is challenging to accomplish in a short soundbite before moving on to on-field concerns. Outside of this particular tragedy and outside Liverpool, it would seem strange to preface every criticism of a footballer with an acknowledgment that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their family situation, personal challenges, or relationship difficulties.

An ex- pro footballer, the defender, lately spoke on radio about how his mother's passing midway through his career affected his love for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he stated. "The highs and the lows that come with it no longer felt the same after that." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three months.

The Concluding Point

So, whatever Liverpool accomplish this season—be it success or failure—even if we omit reference to it every time we analyze their matches, and even if it is not the sole reason for their eventual outcome, we must remember that a few weeks ago they lost not just a exceptional footballer, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a dear friend.