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Only a couple of weeks ago, Liverpool seemed destined to claim back-to-back Premier League championships and possibly another Champions League crown. Their ability to win without peak displays seemed like the hallmark of true title-winners.

However, then the momentum shifted. The Anfield side continued with mediocre performances and started dropping points. Meanwhile, Arsenal, renowned for their resolute defense and strength in depth, started narrowing the gap at the top.

Defining a Crisis in Today's Game

Does three straight defeats constitute a collapse? As with most sporting discussions, it hinges completely on your interpretation of the central word. Was the United midfielder world class? What does "world class" even signify? Are Aston Villa a major club? What constitutes "big"? Are Manchester United back? Alright, perhaps that is one we might answer.

At a team of Liverpool's size and previous campaign's brilliance, a minor crisis seems a fair description. During a broadcast, ex- forward Neil Mellor was asked how many losses in a row would cause panic. His reply was six. At present, they are midway to that particular point.

Pinpointing the Tactical Problems

One can observe obvious tactical problems. Integrating new signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a different style to departed key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Likewise, blending in a gifted playmaker like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a creative talent who elevates those beside him, linking play effortlessly rather than imposing himself upon the game.

Furthermore, a host of players who excelled last campaign—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now underperforming. Actually, the majority of the team is. And every one of them have one significant, recent event: the tragic death of their colleague and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Loss on the Field

It has been just over three months since the tragic passing of their teammate. Although the wider world moves on rapidly, diverting attention to global matters, the club's players carry on training and playing each day without their mate.

This is impossible to know how each player and staff member is coping on any given day. It requires a significant amount of speculation. Maybe Salah failed to defend in a particular match simply he lacked energy. 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, spoke eloquently before a recent, drawing a parallel to his personal experience of the loss of a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "The way they are performing this season is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after Jota's loss. I went through exactly the same experience when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It is difficult for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the manager when you arrive at the training complex and you find every day that spot empty. So you have to be very strong. And this is the reason why for me they are performing not well, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to deal with a problem that is not easy."

As explained succinctly on a well-known supporter's show, the reminders are ongoing. They are reminded by his chant in the first half, they notice his unused locker in the dressing room. In the middle of matches, a through ball might be made and the realization arises: 'Ah, Jota would have reached that.' When the Egyptian was seen crying in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that all is far from normal.

The Boundaries of Football Analysis and Human Emotion

Having covering football for two decades, one realizes there is a fundamental superficiality in most analysis. We simply cannot know how an player is feeling at any given time and how that affects their play. Jota's death is one of the clearest illustrations. We know a terrible thing occurred, and we comprehend the concept of grief. Beyond that lies an immeasurable layer of effect on different individuals at the organization. It is very possible that a few of the squad personally do not truly grasp its effect from one moment to the next.

The way the press reports on this and how fans dissect performances is obviously not the most important thing. On a functional level, mentioning Jota's death is difficult to accomplish in a brief soundbite before moving on to tactical concerns. Outside of this specific tragedy and beyond Liverpool, it would seem strange to qualify each critique of a footballer with an admission that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their parental situation, health struggles, or relationship difficulties.

An ex- professional player, the defender, recently spoke on a broadcast about how his mother's death midway through his playing days impacted his love for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he said. "Some of the high points and the lows 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 Final Point

So, whatever Liverpool achieve in the coming months—be it success or failure—whether or not we don't mention it whenever we discuss their matches, and even if it isn't the reason for their final result, we must remember that a few weeks ago they suffered the loss of not just a brilliant player, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a friend.