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Only a few weeks ago, the Merseyside club appeared set to claim back-to-back Premier League titles and potentially a further Champions League crown. Their capacity to secure victories despite not optimal displays seemed like the mark of genuine title-winners.

However, subsequently the tide turned. Liverpool continued with average showings and began dropping matches. Meanwhile, Arsenal, known for their resolute backline and strength in depth, began closing the gap at the top.

Understanding a Crisis in Today's Game

Does three consecutive losses constitute a collapse? Like most football debates, it depends entirely on your interpretation of the central word. Is Paul Scholes elite? What does "elite" actually signify? Are Aston Villa a major club? What defines "major"? Are Manchester United back? Alright, maybe that is one we might settle.

At a team of this club's stature and previous campaign's excellence, a minor setback appears a reasonable description. During a broadcast, former forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would cause panic. His answer was six. At present, they are midway to that particular threshold.

Identifying the Tactical Problems

One can observe clear footballing issues. Integrating recent additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a different style to departed key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Similarly, blending in a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the engine room. Observers of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a creative talent who improves those beside him, connecting play seamlessly rather than imposing himself upon the game.

Furthermore, a host of individuals who excelled last campaign—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now below their best. Actually, most of the squad is. And they all have one significant, fresh experience: the tragic death of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Impact: Grief on the Field

We are now just more than three short months since the tragic loss of their friend. While the wider world progresses quickly, diverting attention to other matters, Liverpool's squad carry on training and playing each day in the absence of their mate.

This is impossible to gauge how every individual and staff member is dealing on any given day. It requires a great deal of projection. Perhaps Salah failed to defend in a recent match because he lacked energy. But maybe his form is down a small per cent due to the fact he misses his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented eloquently before a recent, drawing a comparison to his personal experience of losing a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "The way they are doing this campaign is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after the loss. I lived a very similar thing when I was a player two decades past."

"It's not easy for the players, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the manager when you come to the training ground and you find every day that spot empty. So you have to be very strong. And this is the explanation why for me they are performing not well, even better than good. Because they are attempting to handle a problem that is not easy."

Just as summarized succinctly on a popular supporter's show, the reminders are ongoing. They are reminded by his chant in the 20th minute, they notice his empty locker in the dressing room. In the middle of games, a pass might be played and the realization arises: 'Oh, Jota would have reached that.' If Salah showed emotion in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that everything is not all right.

The Boundaries of Football Analysis and Personal Grief

After reporting on football for twenty years, one realizes there is a inherent lack of depth in the majority of punditry. We genuinely do not know how an player is coping at any given time and how that impacts their performance. Jota's passing is one of the clearest examples. We know a terrible thing happened, and we understand the concept of sorrow. Beyond that lies an immeasurable layer of impact on various people at the club. It is highly likely that a few of the players themselves do not fully understand its effect from one moment to the next.

The way the press covers this and how supporters dissect displays is obviously not the primary thing. On a functional basis, bringing up Jota's death is difficult to accomplish in a short segment before moving on to tactical concerns. Beyond this specific tragedy and outside Liverpool, it would seem strange to preface each critique of a footballer with an admission that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their family situation, personal struggles, or marital problems.

A former professional player, Nedum Onuoha, recently talked on radio about how his mother's passing halfway through his career affected his passion for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he said. "The highs 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 short months.

The Final Thought

So, whatever Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—be it success or failure—whether or not we omit reference to it every time we analyze their matches, and even if it is not the sole reason for their eventual outcome, we must remember that a short time ago they suffered the loss of not merely a exceptional footballer, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a friend.