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Only a few weeks back, Liverpool appeared set to claim back-to-back Premier League championships and possibly another Champions League trophy. Their ability to secure victories despite not optimal performances seemed like the hallmark of true title-winners.

But, then the tide turned. Liverpool continued with mediocre showings and began losing matches. Meanwhile, Arsenal, renowned for their stubborn defense and squad depth, began narrowing the distance at the summit.

Defining a Slump in Modern Football

Does a trio of consecutive defeats constitute a crisis? Like most sporting discussions, it hinges entirely on your definition of the central word. Is Paul Scholes world class? How do you define "elite" even mean? Are Aston Villa a big club? What defines "big"? Are Manchester United returned to prominence? Well, maybe that is one we might settle.

At a team of this club's size and last season's brilliance, a minor setback seems a fair description. On a recent broadcast, former striker Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would cause panic. His answer was six. At present, they are halfway to that threshold.

Pinpointing the On-Pitch Issues

There are clear tactical problems. Assimilating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a distinct skill set to previous key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Likewise, incorporating a gifted playmaker like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a technical player who elevates those beside him, connecting play seamlessly rather than imposing himself upon the game.

Additionally, a host of individuals who excelled last campaign—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently underperforming. In fact, most of the squad is. And they all share one profound, recent experience: the tragic death of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Impact: Loss on the Field

It has been just over three months since the devastating passing of their teammate. Although the wider world progresses quickly, shifting focus to global matters, Liverpool's players carry on going to work day after day in the absence of their friend.

It is impossible to gauge how every player and member of the backroom team is dealing on any given day. There is a great deal of speculation. Perhaps Salah failed to defend in a particular match because he was tired. But maybe his performance level is down a small per cent due to the fact he misses his pal.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke eloquently before a fixture, drawing a comparison to his own situation of losing a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this season is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after the 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 club, it's not easy for the manager when you come to the training ground and you see every day that spot empty. So you must 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 situation that is not easy."

Just as explained well on a popular fan podcast, the reminders are ongoing. They are reminded by his chant in the 20th minute, they notice his unused locker in the changing room. Even during games, a through ball might be played and the realization arises: 'Ah, Diogo would have been there.' When the Egyptian was seen crying in front of the Kop a matches ago, it signals that all is far from all right.

The Limits of Punditry and Personal Grief

Having reporting on football for two decades, one comes to believe there is a inherent lack of depth in most punditry. We genuinely cannot know how an player is coping at any given moment and how that affects their play. Jota's passing is one of the clearest examples. We are aware a terrible event occurred, and we understand the nature of sorrow. Beyond that lies an intangible layer of impact on various people at the organization. It is highly likely that a few of the squad themselves don't fully grasp its influence from one day to the next.

How the media reports on this and how fans analyze displays is obviously far from the primary factor. On a practical basis, mentioning Jota's death is difficult to accomplish in a brief soundbite before moving on to on-field concerns. Outside of this particular tragedy and outside Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to preface every critique of a footballer with an admission that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their parental relationships, personal challenges, or relationship difficulties.

An ex- professional player, Nedum Onuoha, lately spoke on a broadcast about how his mother's passing midway through his playing days impacted his passion for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he stated. "Some of the high points and the low points that come with it didn't really feel the same after that." And that was many years into his profession; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three short months.

The Concluding Thought

So, regardless of what Liverpool accomplish this season—be it success or failure—even if we omit reference to it whenever we analyze their matches, even if it isn't the cause for their final outcome, we must remember that a few weeks ago they lost not just a exceptional footballer, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a friend.