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Only a few weeks back, the Merseyside club appeared set to secure back-to-back Premier League championships and potentially a further Champions League crown. Their ability to secure victories without peak displays seemed like the mark of true title-winners.

But, subsequently the momentum turned. Liverpool continued with average showings and started losing points. Meanwhile, Arsenal, renowned for their stubborn backline and squad depth, started closing the distance at the summit.

Understanding a Slump in Modern Football

Can a trio of consecutive losses constitute a crisis? As with most sporting discussions, it hinges completely on your definition of the key term. Was the United midfielder elite? What does "elite" actually mean? Is the Birmingham club a major club? What defines "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit back? Well, maybe that is a question we can settle.

For a club of this club's stature and previous campaign's brilliance, a minor setback appears a reasonable description. During a broadcast, former striker Neil Mellor was asked how many defeats in a row would trigger panic. His reply was six. At present, they are midway to that threshold.

Pinpointing the On-Pitch Problems

One can observe obvious tactical issues. Integrating new additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a different skill set to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a difficulty. Similarly, blending in a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the engine room. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a technical talent who improves those beside him, linking play effortlessly rather than forcing himself upon the game.

Furthermore, a host of players who excelled last season—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently below their best. Actually, the majority of the team is. And they all have one profound, recent experience: the passing of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Effect: Grief on the Pitch

We are now just more than three short months since the tragic passing of their teammate. While the outside world progresses quickly, diverting focus to other events, Liverpool's squad carry on training and playing day after day in the absence of their mate.

It is not possible to know how each player and member of the backroom team is coping on any given day. There is a great deal of speculation. Maybe Salah failed to defend in a particular match simply he was tired. Or perhaps his performance level is down a small percentage points because he is grieving for his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a recent, drawing a parallel to his own situation of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "The way they are doing this season is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after the tragedy. I went through a very similar experience when I was a player two decades past."

"It's not easy for the players, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the coach when you arrive at 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 doing not good, even better than good. Because they are attempting to deal with a situation that is not easy."

As explained well on a popular fan podcast, the reminders are ongoing. They hear his chant in the 20th minute, they notice his empty peg in the changing room. Even during matches, a through ball might be played and the realization arises: 'Ah, Jota would have been there.' When the Egyptian 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

After reporting on football for two decades, one realizes there is a inherent superficiality in the majority of punditry. We simply do not know how an individual is feeling at any given time and how that affects their performance. Jota's death is one of the clearest examples. We are aware a terrible event occurred, and we comprehend the nature of sorrow. Beyond that lies an intangible layer of effect on different individuals at the organization. It is highly likely that a few of the players personally do not fully understand its influence from one moment to the next.

The way the media covers this and how fans dissect displays is clearly not the primary factor. On a practical basis, bringing up Jota's death is difficult to accomplish in a short segment before transitioning to on-field issues. Beyond this specific event and outside Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to preface every critique of a player with an acknowledgment that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their family situation, health struggles, or relationship problems.

An ex- pro footballer, the defender, recently talked on radio about how his mother's passing halfway through his playing days affected his passion for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he stated. "The highs and the low points 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 short months.

The Concluding Thought

So, whatever Liverpool achieve this season—if it's something or if it's nothing—whether or not we don't mention it every time we analyze their fixtures, even if it isn't the cause for their eventual outcome, we must remember that a short time ago they suffered the loss of not just a exceptional player, but, more importantly, they lost a friend.