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Only a few weeks back, the Merseyside club appeared destined to secure back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly a further Champions League crown. The team's capacity to win despite not peak displays seemed like the mark of true champions.

However, subsequently the momentum shifted. The Anfield side continued with mediocre showings and started dropping points. At the same time, Arsenal, known for their stubborn defense and strength in depth, began closing the distance at the top.

Understanding a Crisis in Today's Game

Does a trio of consecutive defeats represent a collapse? Like most sporting discussions, it depends completely on your definition of the key word. Was the United midfielder elite? What does "world class" actually mean? Is the Birmingham club a major club? What constitutes "big"? Is the Old Trafford outfit back? Well, maybe that's one we might answer.

For a club of this club's size and previous campaign's excellence, a minor crisis seems a reasonable description. During a broadcast, ex- forward Neil Mellor was asked how many defeats in a row would trigger alarm. His reply was six. At present, they are halfway to that threshold.

Identifying the On-Pitch Problems

There are clear tactical issues. Assimilating new additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a different skill set to previous stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Similarly, incorporating a gifted attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a technical talent who elevates those beside him, connecting play seamlessly rather than imposing himself on the game.

Additionally, a number of players who shone last season—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently below their best. In fact, most of the squad are. Yet every one of them share one profound, recent experience: the passing of their colleague and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Loss on the Pitch

It has been just more than three short months since the tragic passing of their teammate. While the wider world moves on rapidly, diverting attention to global matters, Liverpool's players carry on training and playing day after day in the absence of their friend.

It is not possible to gauge how each player and staff member is coping on any given day. There is a significant amount of projection. Maybe Salah failed to defend in a recent match because he lacked energy. But maybe his form is down a small per cent because he is grieving for his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke insightfully before a fixture, drawing a parallel to his personal situation of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this campaign is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after Jota's loss. I lived a very similar experience when I was a player 20 years ago."

"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 complex and you see daily that place vacant. So you must be very strong. And this is the explanation why for me they are performing not well, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to handle a problem that is not easy."

Just as summarized succinctly on a well-known fan podcast, the memory triggers are constant. The players are reminded by his song in the first half, they notice his unused locker in the dressing room. In the middle of matches, a through ball might be played and the realization arises: 'Oh, Jota would have reached that.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a matches ago, it signals that all is far from all right.

The Limits of Football Analysis and Personal Grief

Having covering football for twenty years, one realizes there is a inherent lack of depth in the majority of analysis. We simply cannot know how an individual is feeling at any given time and how that impacts their performance. Jota's passing is one of the clearest illustrations. We are aware a terrible thing happened, and we comprehend the concept of sorrow. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of effect on different individuals at the organization. It is very possible that a few of the players themselves do not fully understand its influence from one day to the next.

The way the media reports on this and how supporters dissect performances is obviously far from the most important thing. On a functional level, mentioning Jota's passing is difficult to do in a short soundbite before moving on to on-field concerns. Outside of this particular event and beyond Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to preface each critique of a player with an acknowledgment that we know so little about their private circumstances—be it their family situation, health struggles, or marital problems.

An ex- pro player, the defender, recently talked on radio about how his mother's passing halfway through his playing days affected his passion for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he said. "The high points and the low points that come with it no longer felt the same any more." And that was many years into his profession; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three months.

The Final Point

Therefore, whatever Liverpool accomplish this season—be it success or failure—whether or not we don't mention it every time we analyze 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 merely a brilliant footballer, but, more importantly, they said goodbye to a friend.