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Just a couple of weeks ago, Liverpool appeared set to secure back-to-back Premier League titles and potentially a further Champions League trophy. Their capacity to win without peak performances seemed like the hallmark of true champions.

But, then the tide shifted. Liverpool persisted with average showings and started losing points. At the same time, Arsenal, known for their stubborn backline and strength in depth, started narrowing the distance at the top.

Understanding a Crisis in Modern Football

Can a trio of consecutive losses represent a crisis? As with most football debates, it hinges entirely on your definition of the key word. Is Paul Scholes elite? How do you define "elite" even mean? Is the Birmingham club a big team? What constitutes "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit back? Alright, maybe that's one we might settle.

At a team of this club's size and last season's brilliance, a mini setback seems a reasonable assessment. On a recent broadcast, ex- forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would trigger alarm. His answer was six. At present, they are halfway to that threshold.

Identifying the Tactical Issues

There are clear tactical problems. Assimilating new additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a different style to departed key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Similarly, blending in a gifted attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a technical talent who improves those around him, connecting play seamlessly rather than imposing himself upon the game.

Additionally, a number of players who shone last season—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now below their best. Actually, the majority of the squad are. Yet every one of them have one significant, fresh event: the tragic death of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Impact: Loss on the Pitch

It has been just more than three short months since the devastating loss of their friend. Although the wider world progresses quickly, diverting attention to global matters, Liverpool's squad carry on training and playing day after day without their mate.

It is impossible to gauge how each individual and member of the backroom team is dealing on any given day. It requires a significant amount of projection. Maybe Salah failed to defend in a recent match simply he was tired. Or maybe his form is down a small per cent due to the fact he misses his pal.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a fixture, drawing a parallel to his personal experience of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "The way they are doing this campaign is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after Jota's tragedy. I went through exactly the same experience when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It is difficult for the players, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the coach when you come to the training complex and you find daily that spot vacant. So you must be incredibly resilient. And this is the reason why for me they are performing not well, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to handle a situation that is not easy."

Just as summarized well on a well-known supporter's show, the memory triggers are constant. The players are reminded by his song in the first half, they see his empty peg in the dressing room. Even during games, a pass might be made and the thought arises: 'Ah, Jota would have reached that.' If Salah was seen crying in front of the Kop a matches ago, it signals that everything is not all right.

The Boundaries of Football Analysis and Human Emotion

Having covering football for two decades, one realizes there is a inherent lack of depth in the majority of punditry. We simply cannot know how an player is feeling at any specific time and how that impacts their play. Jota's passing is one of the clearest examples. We are aware a terrible thing happened, and we understand the nature of sorrow. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of impact on various individuals at the organization. It is very possible that a few of the players themselves don't fully grasp its influence from one moment to the next.

The way the media covers this and how fans dissect displays is obviously not the primary thing. On a practical level, bringing up Jota's death is challenging to do in a brief segment before transitioning to tactical issues. Beyond this specific event and beyond Liverpool, it would seem strange to qualify every criticism of a player with an admission that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their family relationships, personal struggles, or relationship difficulties.

An ex- professional player, the defender, recently talked on a broadcast about how his mother's passing halfway through his playing days affected his love for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he said. "The high points and the low points that come with it no longer felt the same any more." And that was many years into his profession; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three short months.

The Final Point

So, regardless of what Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—if it's something or failure—whether or not we don't mention it every time we discuss their matches, even if it is not the sole reason for their eventual outcome, we must remember that a few weeks ago they lost not merely a brilliant player, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a dear friend.