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Just a few weeks back, the Merseyside club seemed set to secure back-to-back Premier League championships and possibly a further Champions League trophy. The team's ability to secure victories despite not optimal performances seemed like the mark of true champions.

But, subsequently the tide turned. Liverpool persisted with mediocre performances and began losing matches. Meanwhile, the North London club, renowned for their resolute defense and strength in depth, started narrowing the distance at the summit.

Understanding a Slump in Modern Football

Can a trio of consecutive losses represent a collapse? Like most football debates, it hinges completely on your interpretation of the key word. Was the United midfielder elite? How do you define "world class" actually mean? Is the Birmingham club a big team? What defines "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit returned to prominence? Alright, maybe that's a question we might settle.

At a team of Liverpool's stature and previous campaign's brilliance, a mini setback seems a reasonable assessment. On a recent radio show, ex- forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many defeats in a row would cause panic. His answer was six. Currently, they are halfway to that point.

Identifying the Tactical Problems

There are obvious footballing problems. Integrating recent additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct style to previous key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Likewise, incorporating a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the engine room. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a technical player who improves those around him, linking play seamlessly rather than forcing himself upon the game.

Additionally, a number of players who excelled last campaign—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now below their best. In fact, most of the squad is. And every one of them share one significant, recent event: the tragic death of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Effect: Loss on the Pitch

It has been just over three months since the devastating passing of their friend. Although the outside world moves on quickly, shifting attention to other matters, Liverpool's players continue going to work day after day in the absence of their friend.

This is not possible to gauge how every individual and member of the backroom team is coping on any given day. It requires a great deal of projection. Maybe Salah failed to defend in a particular match because he was tired. But perhaps his form is down a few percentage points due to the fact he is grieving for his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented eloquently before a recent, drawing a comparison to his own situation of the loss of a teammate, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "The way they are performing this campaign is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after the tragedy. I went through a very similar experience when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It is difficult for the players, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the manager when you arrive at the training complex 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 attempting to handle a situation that is not easy."

As explained well on a well-known supporter's show, the reminders are ongoing. The players are reminded by his song in the first half, they notice his empty locker in the changing room. In the middle of games, a through ball might be played and the realization arises: 'Oh, Diogo would have reached that.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a matches ago, it indicates that everything is far from normal.

The Boundaries of Football Analysis and Personal Grief

Having covering football for two decades, one comes to believe there is a inherent superficiality in most analysis. We simply do not know how an player is feeling at any specific moment and how that affects their play. Jota's death is one of the clearest examples. We are aware a terrible event occurred, and we understand the concept of grief. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of effect on various people at the club. It is very possible that a few of the squad themselves don't fully grasp its effect from one moment to the next.

The way the media covers this and how fans dissect performances is obviously far from the primary thing. On a functional basis, bringing up Jota's death is difficult to do in a short soundbite before moving on to tactical issues. Outside of this particular tragedy and beyond Liverpool, it would seem strange to preface every critique of a footballer with an acknowledgment that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their parental relationships, personal struggles, or relationship problems.

A former professional footballer, the defender, recently spoke on radio about how his mother's death halfway through his playing days affected his passion for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he said. "Some of the high points and the low points that accompany it didn't really feel the same after that." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three short months.

The Concluding Point

So, whatever Liverpool achieve this season—be it success or if it's nothing—even if we don't mention it whenever we discuss their fixtures, and even if it is not the sole reason for their eventual result, we should not forget that a short time ago they lost not just a exceptional footballer, but, more importantly, they lost a dear friend.