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Just a couple of weeks ago, the Merseyside club seemed destined to secure back-to-back Premier League championships and possibly a further Champions League crown. Their ability to win despite not optimal performances felt like the hallmark of genuine champions.

But, then the momentum shifted. The Anfield side continued with average performances and began losing points. Meanwhile, the North London club, known for their resolute backline and squad depth, began closing the gap at the top.

Understanding a Slump in Today's Game

Does a trio of straight losses constitute a crisis? As with many football debates, it depends entirely on your interpretation of the central word. Was the United midfielder world class? What does "elite" even mean? Are Aston Villa a major club? What constitutes "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit returned to prominence? Well, perhaps that is one we can settle.

For a club of this club's size and last season's excellence, a minor setback seems a fair assessment. During a broadcast, ex- striker Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would trigger panic. His reply was six. At present, they are halfway to that point.

Identifying the Tactical Issues

There are obvious tactical problems. Assimilating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct skill set to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Similarly, incorporating a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a creative talent who improves those beside him, linking play seamlessly rather than imposing himself upon the game.

Additionally, a number of individuals who excelled last season—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now underperforming. In fact, the majority of the squad is. Yet they all have one profound, fresh event: the passing of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Impact: Loss on the Field

We are now just over three short months since the devastating loss of their teammate. Although the wider world progresses quickly, shifting focus to global events, Liverpool's squad carry on training and playing each day in the absence of their friend.

This is not possible to know how each individual and staff member is dealing from one day to the next. There is a great deal of speculation. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a recent match simply he was tired. Or perhaps his form is down a small percentage points due to the fact he is grieving for his friend.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a fixture, making a parallel to his own situation of losing a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this campaign is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after Jota's loss. I went through a very similar experience when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It's not easy for the squad, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the manager when you come to the training ground and you find daily that place vacant. So you have to be incredibly resilient. And this is the explanation why for me they are doing not well, even better than good. Because they are attempting to handle a problem that is not easy."

As explained succinctly on a well-known supporter's show, the reminders are ongoing. They hear his song in the 20th minute, they notice his empty peg in the dressing room. In the middle of games, a through ball might be played and the realization arises: 'Ah, Jota would have been there.' If Salah showed emotion in front of the Kop a few games ago, it signals that all is not normal.

The Limits of Punditry and Personal Grief

Having reporting on football for twenty years, one comes to believe there is a fundamental lack of depth in the majority of analysis. We genuinely do not know how an individual is coping at any given moment and how that affects their performance. Jota's death is one of the most stark examples. We are aware a tragic thing happened, and we comprehend the concept of sorrow. Beyond that lies an intangible layer of effect on various people at the organization. It is very possible that some of the squad themselves do not truly understand its effect from one moment to the next.

How the press reports on this and how fans dissect displays is clearly far from the primary factor. On a functional basis, mentioning Jota's passing is challenging to accomplish in a brief segment before moving on to on-field concerns. Beyond this particular tragedy and outside Liverpool, it would seem strange to qualify each critique of a footballer with an admission that we know so little about their private circumstances—be it their parental relationships, health challenges, or relationship difficulties.

An ex- professional footballer, the defender, recently talked on a broadcast about how his mother's passing halfway through his career impacted his love for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he stated. "The high points and the low points that come with it no longer felt the same after that." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three short months.

The Concluding Point

Therefore, whatever Liverpool achieve in the coming months—if it's something or failure—even if we omit reference to it every time we discuss their fixtures, and even if it is not the sole reason for their final outcome, we should not forget that a short time ago they lost not merely a brilliant footballer, but, more importantly, they said goodbye to a dear friend.