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Only a couple of weeks ago, Liverpool appeared destined to claim back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly another Champions League crown. Their capacity to win without peak performances seemed like the mark of true title-winners.

But, then the momentum shifted. The Anfield side persisted with average performances and began dropping matches. Meanwhile, Arsenal, known for their stubborn defense and strength in depth, started closing the distance at the summit.

Defining a Slump in Today's Game

Can a trio of straight defeats represent a collapse? As with many sporting discussions, it depends completely on your definition of the central term. Is Paul Scholes world class? How do you define "elite" even signify? Are Aston Villa a major team? What defines "big"? Are Manchester United back? Alright, maybe that's one we might answer.

At a team of Liverpool's size and previous campaign's brilliance, a mini crisis seems a fair description. On a recent broadcast, former forward Neil Mellor was asked how many defeats in a row would trigger alarm. His answer was six. Currently, they are midway to that particular threshold.

Identifying the Tactical Problems

One can observe obvious footballing issues. Integrating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a different skill set to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Likewise, blending in a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Observers of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a creative player who elevates those around him, connecting play seamlessly rather than forcing himself upon the game.

Furthermore, a host of individuals who excelled last season—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now below their best. Actually, most of the team is. And every one of them have one significant, recent event: the tragic death of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Impact: Loss on the Field

We are now just over three short months since the tragic loss of their friend. Although the outside world moves on rapidly, shifting attention to global events, the club's players carry on going to work day after day in the absence of their mate.

It is impossible to gauge how every individual and staff member is dealing from one day to the next. It requires a great deal of speculation. Maybe Salah failed to defend in a particular match because he lacked energy. Or perhaps his performance level is down a few percentage points due to the fact he misses his friend.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke eloquently before a fixture, making a parallel to his own situation of the loss of a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "The way they are performing this season is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after Jota's tragedy. I lived a very similar experience when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It is difficult for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the coach when you come to the training ground and you find every day that place empty. So you must be incredibly resilient. And this is the explanation why for me they are performing not well, even better than good. Because they are trying to handle a situation that is not easy."

As explained succinctly on a popular fan podcast, the reminders are constant. They are reminded by his song in the 20th minute, they notice his empty peg in the changing room. In the middle of games, a through ball might be made and the realization arises: 'Oh, Diogo would have been there.' If Salah was seen crying in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that everything is not all right.

The Boundaries of Punditry and Personal Grief

After covering football for two decades, one comes to believe there is a inherent lack of depth in the majority of analysis. We simply do not know how an individual is feeling at any given time and how that impacts their play. Jota's death is one of the most stark illustrations. We are aware a tragic event occurred, and we understand the concept of sorrow. But further lies an intangible layer of impact on different people at the organization. It is highly likely that some of the squad themselves don't truly understand its influence from one day to the next.

How the press reports on this and how fans dissect displays is obviously not the most important factor. On a functional level, bringing up Jota's passing is challenging to accomplish in a brief soundbite before transitioning to tactical issues. Beyond this specific tragedy and beyond Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to qualify every criticism of a footballer with an acknowledgment that we know so little about their private circumstances—be it their family situation, personal struggles, or marital problems.

An ex- pro player, the defender, recently spoke on a broadcast about how his mother's death midway through his playing days affected his passion for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he stated. "The high points and the lows 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 only three months.

The Final Thought

So, regardless of what Liverpool achieve in the coming months—be it success or if it's nothing—whether or not we don't mention it whenever we discuss their matches, and even if it isn't the cause for their eventual outcome, we must remember that a short time ago they lost not merely a exceptional footballer, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a friend.