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Just a few weeks ago, Liverpool seemed set to secure back-to-back Premier League championships and possibly a further Champions League trophy. Their ability to secure victories without peak performances felt like the mark of genuine champions.

But, then the tide shifted. Liverpool persisted with mediocre showings and began dropping points. Meanwhile, the North London club, renowned for their resolute backline and squad depth, began narrowing the distance at the top.

Defining a Crisis in Modern Football

Can a trio of consecutive losses represent a collapse? Like most sporting discussions, it hinges entirely on your definition of the key word. Was the United midfielder world class? What does "world class" actually signify? Is the Birmingham club a big club? What constitutes "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit back? Alright, perhaps that is one we can settle.

For a club of Liverpool's stature and last season's brilliance, a mini setback seems a reasonable description. During a broadcast, former forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many defeats in a row would cause alarm. His reply was six. Currently, they are halfway to that particular point.

Pinpointing the Tactical Issues

One can observe clear footballing issues. Integrating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a different skill set to previous stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Similarly, incorporating a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a technical player who improves those beside him, linking play seamlessly rather than imposing himself on the game.

Additionally, a host of individuals who excelled last campaign—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently underperforming. Actually, most of the squad are. And they all have one profound, fresh event: the passing of their colleague and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Loss on the Pitch

We are now just over three months since the devastating loss of their friend. Although the outside world moves on rapidly, diverting focus to global events, Liverpool's players continue training and playing day after day in the absence of their mate.

It is impossible to gauge how every individual and staff member is coping on any given day. It requires a great deal of speculation. Perhaps Salah failed to defend in a particular match simply he lacked energy. Or perhaps his performance level is down a few per cent because he misses his pal.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke insightfully before a recent, drawing a comparison to his own experience of losing a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "The way they are doing this campaign is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after Jota's tragedy. I lived a very similar 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 coach when you arrive at the training complex and you find daily that place vacant. So you have to be very strong. And this is the reason why for me they are doing not well, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to handle a problem that is not easy."

Just as explained succinctly on a popular supporter's show, the reminders are ongoing. They hear his song in the first half, they see his empty peg in the dressing room. In the middle of games, a through ball might be played and the thought arises: 'Ah, Jota would have been there.' If Salah showed emotion in front of the Kop a matches ago, it indicates that all is far from all right.

The Boundaries of Punditry and Personal Grief

Having reporting on football for two decades, one comes to believe there is a fundamental lack of depth in the majority of punditry. We simply cannot know how an individual is coping at any given time and how that affects their play. Jota's death is one of the most stark illustrations. We know a tragic thing happened, and we understand the nature of grief. Beyond that lies an intangible layer of effect on different individuals at the club. It is highly likely that some of the squad personally do not truly understand its influence from one day to the next.

How the media reports on this and how supporters analyze displays is clearly far from the primary factor. On a practical level, bringing up Jota's death is difficult to accomplish in a brief segment before moving on to on-field concerns. Outside of this specific event and outside Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to qualify every criticism of a player with an acknowledgment that we are largely ignorant about their personal lives—be it their parental situation, health challenges, or relationship problems.

A former pro footballer, the defender, recently talked on a broadcast about how his mother's passing halfway through his career affected his passion for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he said. "The highs and the lows that accompany it didn't really feel the same any more." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three short months.

The Concluding Thought

So, whatever Liverpool accomplish this season—be it success or if it's nothing—whether or not we don't mention it whenever we discuss their fixtures, even if it isn't the cause for their eventual outcome, we should not forget that a few weeks ago they suffered the loss of not merely a exceptional player, but, more importantly, they lost a friend.