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Only a couple of weeks back, the Merseyside club seemed destined to claim back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly another Champions League crown. Their ability to win without optimal performances felt like the mark of true champions.

However, subsequently the tide shifted. Liverpool persisted with mediocre showings and started dropping matches. At the same time, the North London club, known for their resolute backline and squad depth, began narrowing the distance at the top.

Defining a Slump in Today's Game

Does three consecutive losses constitute a crisis? As with most football debates, it hinges entirely on your definition of the key term. Was the United midfielder elite? How do you define "elite" even signify? Is the Birmingham club a big team? What defines "major"? Are Manchester United returned to prominence? Alright, maybe that's a question we might answer.

At a team of this club's stature and last season's brilliance, a mini crisis seems a reasonable assessment. On a recent radio show, ex- forward Neil Mellor was asked how many losses in a row would cause panic. His reply was six. Currently, they are halfway to that particular point.

Pinpointing the On-Pitch Problems

There are clear tactical issues. 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 difficulty. Likewise, incorporating a talented playmaker like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the engine room. Experts of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a creative player who elevates those around him, connecting play effortlessly rather than forcing himself upon the game.

Additionally, a number of individuals who excelled last season—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently underperforming. In fact, most of the squad are. Yet they all have one significant, recent experience: the tragic death of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Grief on the Pitch

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

It is not possible to know how each player and staff member is dealing on any given day. It requires a significant amount of speculation. Maybe Salah didn't track back in a recent match simply he was tired. Or perhaps his performance level is down a small percentage points due to the fact he misses his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a recent, drawing a comparison to his personal experience of losing a teammate, 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 20 years ago."

"It's not easy for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the manager when you arrive at the training ground and you see daily that place empty. So you have to be very strong. And this is the explanation why for me they are performing not well, even better than good. Because they are trying to handle a problem that is not easy."

As explained succinctly on a popular fan podcast, the reminders are constant. They are reminded by his chant in the 20th minute, they see his empty locker in the changing room. Even during games, a through ball might be made and the thought arises: 'Oh, Jota would have reached that.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a matches ago, it signals that everything is not all right.

The Boundaries of Punditry and Human Emotion

After reporting on football for twenty years, one comes to believe there is a inherent lack of depth in the majority of punditry. We simply do not know how an player is feeling at any specific time and how that affects their play. Jota's passing is one of the clearest illustrations. We are aware a tragic event happened, and we understand the nature of sorrow. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of effect on various individuals at the organization. It is very possible that some of the squad personally do not fully grasp its influence from one day to the next.

The way the press covers this and how supporters dissect performances is clearly not the primary factor. On a functional basis, mentioning Jota's death is challenging to accomplish in a brief segment before transitioning to tactical concerns. Outside of this specific tragedy and beyond Liverpool, it would seem strange to preface every critique of a footballer with an acknowledgment that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their parental situation, health challenges, or relationship problems.

An ex- professional footballer, the defender, recently talked on a broadcast about how his mother's death halfway through his career affected his passion 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 any more." And that was many years into his profession; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three months.

The Concluding Point

Therefore, regardless of what Liverpool accomplish this season—if it's something or if it's nothing—whether or not we don't mention it whenever 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 just a exceptional player, but, crucially, they lost a dear friend.