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Just a few weeks ago, Liverpool appeared destined to claim back-to-back Premier League championships and potentially a further Champions League trophy. The team's capacity to secure victories without optimal displays seemed like the hallmark of true champions.

But, then the tide turned. Liverpool persisted with average showings and started dropping points. At the same time, Arsenal, renowned for their stubborn backline and strength in depth, began closing the gap at the top.

Understanding a Slump in Today's Game

Can three straight losses constitute a crisis? As with most sporting discussions, it hinges entirely on your definition of the central word. Was the United midfielder world class? How do you define "elite" actually signify? Is the Birmingham club a major team? What constitutes "big"? Is the Old Trafford outfit returned to prominence? Alright, maybe that is a question we might settle.

At a team of Liverpool's size and last season's brilliance, a minor crisis appears a reasonable description. On a recent broadcast, former forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would trigger alarm. His reply was six. Currently, they are midway to that threshold.

Pinpointing the On-Pitch Problems

One can observe clear footballing problems. Integrating new signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a different style to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Similarly, incorporating a gifted attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the engine room. Observers of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a creative player who improves those around him, connecting play seamlessly rather than forcing himself on the game.

Additionally, a host of players who shone last season—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently underperforming. In fact, the majority of the squad is. And every one of them have one profound, fresh event: the tragic death of their teammate and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Grief on the Field

It has been just over three short months since the tragic passing of their teammate. Although the wider world progresses rapidly, shifting attention to other matters, Liverpool's squad carry on going to work each day without their mate.

This is not possible to gauge how each player and staff member is coping from one day to the next. There is a great deal of speculation. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a particular match simply he lacked energy. But perhaps his form is down a small percentage points due to the fact he misses his pal.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke insightfully before a recent, making a comparison to his personal situation of the loss of a teammate, 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 organization, it's not easy for the coach when you come to the training ground and you find every day that spot empty. So you have to be incredibly resilient. And this is the reason why for me they are doing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to deal with a situation that is not easy."

Just as explained succinctly on a popular supporter's show, the reminders are constant. They are reminded by his chant in the 20th minute, they notice his empty peg in the dressing room. In the middle of games, a pass might be played and the thought arises: 'Oh, Jota would have been there.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a few games ago, it signals that all is not all right.

The Limits of Punditry and Human Emotion

Having covering football for twenty years, one realizes there is a inherent superficiality in the majority of analysis. We simply do not know how an individual is coping at any specific moment and how that affects their play. Jota's passing is one of the most stark illustrations. We know a tragic thing happened, and we comprehend the nature of grief. But further lies an intangible layer of impact on different people at the club. It is very possible that some of the players personally do not fully grasp its influence from one moment to the next.

The way the media covers this and how supporters analyze displays is clearly not the primary thing. On a practical level, mentioning Jota's death is difficult to do in a short segment before transitioning to tactical issues. Outside of this specific tragedy and beyond Liverpool, it would seem strange to preface each criticism of a player with an admission that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their family situation, personal challenges, or marital problems.

An ex- professional player, Nedum Onuoha, recently spoke on radio about how his mother's death halfway through his playing days affected his passion for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he stated. "Some of the highs and the low points that accompany it didn't really feel the same any more." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three short months.

The Final Thought

So, whatever Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—if it's something or failure—whether or not we don't mention it every time we analyze their matches, even if it is not the sole reason for their final result, we must remember that a short time ago they lost not just a exceptional player, but, crucially, they lost a friend.