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Just a couple of weeks ago, Liverpool appeared set to claim back-to-back Premier League titles and potentially another Champions League trophy. The team's ability to secure victories without optimal performances seemed like the mark of genuine title-winners.

But, then the momentum shifted. The Anfield side continued with mediocre performances and began dropping points. Meanwhile, Arsenal, known for their resolute defense and strength in depth, began narrowing the distance at the summit.

Defining a Slump in Modern Football

Can three straight losses constitute a collapse? As with many sporting discussions, it depends entirely on your definition of the key word. Was the United midfielder world class? How do you define "world class" actually signify? Is the Birmingham club a major club? What defines "big"? Are Manchester United back? Alright, perhaps that's one we can answer.

At a team of Liverpool's stature and previous campaign's brilliance, a minor setback seems a fair assessment. During a radio show, ex- striker Neil Mellor was asked how many losses in a row would trigger panic. His answer was six. Currently, they are midway to that particular point.

Identifying the Tactical Problems

There are clear tactical issues. Assimilating new signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct skill set to previous key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Likewise, incorporating a gifted playmaker like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Observers of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a creative talent who improves those beside him, linking play seamlessly rather than forcing himself upon the game.

Furthermore, a number of individuals who shone last campaign—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently below their best. In fact, most of the squad is. And they all have one significant, fresh experience: the tragic death of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Effect: Loss on the Field

It has been just more than three months since the tragic passing of their friend. While the outside world progresses quickly, diverting attention to other events, Liverpool's squad carry on going to work day after day in the absence of their friend.

It is not possible to gauge how every player and member of the backroom team is coping from one day to the next. It requires a significant amount of speculation. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a particular match simply he was tired. But maybe his performance level is down a small per cent due to the fact he misses his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke eloquently before a fixture, making a comparison to his personal situation of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this season is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after Jota's tragedy. I went through a very similar experience when I was a player two decades past."

"It is difficult for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the manager when you come to the training ground and you find daily that spot vacant. So you must be very strong. And this is the reason why for me they are performing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to handle a problem that is not easy."

As summarized well on a popular supporter's show, the memory triggers are ongoing. They are reminded by his song in the first half, they see his empty peg in the dressing room. Even during matches, a pass might be made and the realization arises: 'Oh, Diogo would have been there.' If Salah was seen crying in front of the Kop a matches ago, it signals that everything is far from all right.

The Limits of Football Analysis and Human Emotion

After reporting on football for twenty years, one realizes there is a inherent superficiality in most analysis. We genuinely cannot know how an individual is coping at any specific time and how that affects their play. Jota's death is one of the most stark examples. We know a terrible event happened, and we comprehend the concept of sorrow. But further lies an immeasurable layer of impact on various individuals at the organization. It is highly likely that some of the squad personally don't truly understand its influence from one day to the next.

The way the media covers this and how supporters dissect displays is clearly far from the primary factor. On a functional basis, mentioning Jota's passing is difficult to do in a brief segment before moving on to on-field concerns. Beyond this particular event and beyond Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to qualify every critique of a player with an admission that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their parental situation, health struggles, or relationship problems.

A former pro player, the defender, recently spoke on a broadcast about how his mother's passing halfway through his career impacted his passion for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he stated. "The high points and the lows that come with it didn't really feel the same any more." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three months.

The Final Point

Therefore, regardless of what Liverpool achieve this season—be it success or failure—even if we don't mention it every time we discuss their fixtures, and even if it isn't the cause for their final outcome, we must remember that a short time ago they suffered the loss of not merely a brilliant footballer, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a dear friend.