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Just a few weeks ago, the Merseyside club seemed set to secure back-to-back Premier League titles and potentially another Champions League crown. Their ability to secure victories without optimal displays felt like the hallmark of true champions.

But, subsequently the tide turned. Liverpool continued with mediocre showings and started losing matches. At the same time, the North London club, known for their resolute backline and squad depth, started closing the distance at the summit.

Defining a Slump in Today's Game

Does a trio of consecutive defeats constitute a collapse? Like most sporting discussions, it depends entirely on your definition of the key word. Is Paul Scholes elite? What does "elite" even signify? Are Aston Villa a big club? What defines "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit back? Well, perhaps that's one we might settle.

For a club of Liverpool's size and last season's excellence, a mini setback seems a fair description. During a broadcast, ex- forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many defeats 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 issues. Integrating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a distinct style to previous key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Likewise, incorporating a gifted 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 imposing himself on the game.

Furthermore, a number of players who shone last campaign—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now below their best. In fact, most of the squad are. And they all share one significant, fresh experience: the passing of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Grief on the Field

We are now just over three short months since the tragic passing of their teammate. Although the outside world progresses rapidly, shifting attention to other events, Liverpool's players continue going to work each day without their friend.

It 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 projection. Perhaps Salah failed to defend in a recent match because he lacked energy. But maybe his performance level is down a few percentage points because he is grieving for his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke eloquently before a recent, drawing a parallel to his personal situation of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "The way they are doing this campaign is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after Jota's tragedy. I went through exactly the same thing 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 manager 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 explanation why for me they are doing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to deal with a situation that is not easy."

As explained succinctly on a well-known supporter's show, the memory triggers are constant. They hear his song in the 20th minute, they notice his unused locker in the dressing room. In the middle of games, a pass might be played and the realization arises: 'Ah, Diogo would have reached that.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that all is far from normal.

The Boundaries of Football Analysis and Human Emotion

Having covering football for twenty years, one realizes there is a fundamental lack of depth in most punditry. We genuinely do not know how an individual is coping at any given moment and how that impacts their play. Jota's death is one of the clearest examples. We are aware a tragic thing happened, and we understand the nature of grief. Beyond that lies an immeasurable layer of impact on various people at the club. It is highly likely that a few of the players personally don't fully understand its influence from one day to the next.

How the press covers this and how supporters dissect performances is clearly far from the most important thing. On a practical basis, mentioning Jota's death is difficult to accomplish in a short segment before transitioning to tactical issues. Beyond this particular tragedy and beyond Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to qualify each critique of a footballer with an acknowledgment that we know so little about their private circumstances—be it their parental situation, health struggles, or relationship problems.

An ex- professional player, Nedum Onuoha, lately spoke on radio about how his mother's death midway through his career impacted his love for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he said. "The highs and the lows that accompany it no longer felt the same any more." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three months.

The Final Thought

So, whatever Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—be it success or failure—even if we omit reference to it whenever we discuss their matches, and even if it isn't the reason for their eventual outcome, we should not forget that a few weeks ago they lost not just a brilliant player, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a friend.