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Only a few weeks back, the Merseyside club appeared set to claim back-to-back Premier League championships and possibly a further Champions League trophy. The team's capacity to secure victories despite not optimal performances seemed like the mark of true champions.

But, subsequently the momentum turned. Liverpool continued with average showings and began dropping matches. At the same time, Arsenal, renowned for their stubborn defense and squad depth, began closing the distance at the top.

Defining a Crisis in Modern Football

Does three straight losses represent a crisis? Like most sporting discussions, it hinges completely on your interpretation of the key term. Was the United midfielder world class? How do you define "elite" even mean? Is the Birmingham club a big club? What constitutes "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit back? Alright, perhaps that's a question we can answer.

For a club of this club's stature and previous campaign's brilliance, a mini setback seems a fair description. On a recent radio show, ex- forward Neil Mellor was asked how many losses in a row would cause panic. His answer was six. Currently, they are midway to that threshold.

Identifying the Tactical Problems

There are clear footballing issues. Assimilating recent additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a distinct skill set to departed key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Similarly, incorporating a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Observers of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a creative player who elevates those around him, connecting play seamlessly rather than forcing himself on the game.

Furthermore, a host of players who excelled last campaign—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now underperforming. Actually, most of the team is. And every one of them have one significant, recent event: the passing of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Effect: Grief on the Field

It has been just over three months since the tragic passing of their teammate. While the wider world progresses rapidly, diverting focus to global matters, Liverpool's players carry on going to work each day without their mate.

It is not possible to know how each player and member of the backroom team is dealing from one day to the next. It requires a significant amount of projection. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a recent match simply he was tired. Or maybe his form is down a small percentage points because he is grieving for his friend.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a recent, drawing a parallel to his personal situation of losing a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "How they are doing this campaign is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after the tragedy. I lived a very similar experience when I was a player two decades past."

"It is difficult 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 empty. So you have to be very strong. And this is the reason 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."

Just as explained succinctly on a well-known fan podcast, the reminders are constant. They are reminded by his song in the first half, they notice his unused peg in the changing room. Even during games, a pass might be played and the realization arises: 'Ah, Diogo would have been there.' If Salah was seen crying in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that all is far from all right.

The Limits of Punditry and Human Emotion

Having covering football for twenty years, one realizes there is a fundamental superficiality in the majority of punditry. We genuinely do not know how an individual is coping at any specific moment and how that affects their play. Jota's death is one of the most stark examples. We are aware a terrible thing happened, and we understand the concept of grief. Beyond that lies an intangible level of effect on different individuals at the club. It is highly likely that a few of the players personally don't truly understand its effect from one day to the next.

The way the media reports on this and how supporters analyze displays is obviously far from the primary thing. On a functional level, mentioning Jota's passing is challenging to do in a short soundbite before moving on to tactical issues. Beyond this specific tragedy and beyond Liverpool, it would seem strange to preface each critique of a player with an admission that we are largely ignorant about their personal lives—be it their parental situation, personal struggles, or relationship problems.

An ex- professional player, the defender, lately spoke on radio about how his mother's death midway through his playing days affected his passion for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he stated. "The high points and the lows that come with it didn't really feel the same after that." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three months.

The Final Point

So, regardless of what Liverpool achieve in the coming months—if it's something or if it's nothing—even if we don't mention it whenever we discuss their fixtures, and even if it isn't the reason for their eventual outcome, we should not forget that a few weeks ago they suffered the loss of not merely a exceptional footballer, but, more importantly, they lost a dear friend.