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Just a couple of weeks back, the Merseyside club appeared set to claim back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly a further Champions League crown. The team's ability to win despite not optimal displays felt like the hallmark of true title-winners.

However, then the momentum shifted. The Anfield side persisted with mediocre showings and began losing points. At the same time, the North London club, known for their resolute backline and squad depth, began narrowing the gap at the summit.

Defining a Crisis in Today's Game

Does three consecutive losses represent a collapse? As with most football debates, it hinges entirely on your interpretation of the key term. Is Paul Scholes world class? How do you define "elite" actually signify? Is the Birmingham club a big team? What defines "major"? Are Manchester United back? Well, maybe that's one we can settle.

At a team of Liverpool's stature and previous campaign's brilliance, a minor setback appears a reasonable assessment. During a radio show, ex- 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 point.

Pinpointing the Tactical Issues

One can observe obvious footballing problems. Integrating recent additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a distinct style to departed key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Similarly, incorporating a talented playmaker like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the engine room. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a creative player who elevates those beside him, linking play effortlessly rather than imposing himself upon the game.

Furthermore, a number of players who shone last campaign—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now below their best. In fact, the majority of the squad is. Yet every one of them share one profound, fresh experience: the passing of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Impact: Grief on the Field

It has been just more than three short months since the devastating loss of their teammate. While the outside world progresses quickly, diverting attention to global events, the club's players carry on going to work each day without their friend.

It is impossible to know how every 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 particular match simply he lacked energy. Or perhaps his form is down a few per cent because he misses his friend.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a recent, making a parallel to his own situation of the loss of a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this season is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after Jota's tragedy. I lived exactly the same thing when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It is difficult for the squad, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the coach when you come to the training complex and you see daily that place vacant. So you must be incredibly resilient. And this is the explanation why for me they are performing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are attempting to handle a problem that is not easy."

Just as explained succinctly on a well-known fan podcast, the reminders are ongoing. The players hear his song in the 20th minute, they notice his empty peg in the changing room. Even during games, a through ball might be played and the thought 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 normal.

The Limits of Punditry and Personal Grief

After reporting on football for two decades, one comes to believe there is a fundamental superficiality in most punditry. We genuinely cannot know how an player is coping at any given moment and how that impacts their performance. Jota's death is one of the most stark illustrations. We are aware a terrible thing happened, and we understand the nature of grief. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of effect on various people at the organization. It is highly likely that some of the squad personally don't fully understand its influence from one day to the next.

The way the media reports on this and how fans dissect displays is obviously not the primary thing. On a functional level, bringing up Jota's death is difficult to do in a short segment before moving on to tactical concerns. Beyond this specific event and beyond Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to qualify each criticism of a footballer with an acknowledgment that we are largely ignorant about their personal lives—be it their parental relationships, personal challenges, or relationship problems.

An ex- pro player, Nedum Onuoha, recently talked on radio about how his mother's death halfway through his career affected his passion for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he stated. "The highs 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 just three short months.

The Concluding Point

So, whatever Liverpool achieve this season—be it success or failure—even if we don't mention it every time we discuss their fixtures, and even if it is not the sole reason for their eventual outcome, we should not forget that a few weeks ago they lost not just a exceptional footballer, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a dear friend.