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Just a few weeks ago, the Merseyside club seemed set to secure back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly another Champions League trophy. Their capacity to secure victories despite not optimal performances felt like the hallmark of true champions.

However, subsequently the tide turned. Liverpool continued with mediocre performances and started losing points. At the same time, Arsenal, renowned for their stubborn defense and strength in depth, began narrowing the distance at the summit.

Understanding a Slump in Modern Football

Can a trio of straight losses represent a crisis? As with many sporting discussions, it hinges completely on your definition of the key word. Was the United midfielder elite? What does "elite" actually signify? Are Aston Villa a major club? What defines "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit back? Alright, maybe that is one we can settle.

For a club of Liverpool's size and last season's brilliance, a minor crisis appears a reasonable assessment. On a recent broadcast, ex- striker Neil Mellor was asked how many losses in a row would trigger panic. His answer was six. At present, they are midway to that point.

Pinpointing the Tactical Problems

One can observe clear footballing problems. Assimilating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a different style to previous stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a difficulty. Likewise, blending in a gifted playmaker like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the engine room. Observers of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a creative player who elevates those around him, linking play effortlessly rather than forcing himself upon the game.

Additionally, a host of players who excelled last campaign—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now below their best. In fact, the majority of the squad is. Yet they all have one profound, recent event: the passing of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Impact: Grief on the Pitch

It has been just more than three short months since the tragic passing of their teammate. Although the wider world moves on rapidly, shifting focus to global matters, Liverpool's squad carry on going to work each day in the absence of their mate.

It is impossible to know how each player and member of the backroom team is dealing on any given day. There is a great deal of projection. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a recent match because he lacked energy. But perhaps his form is down a few per cent due to the fact he misses his friend.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke eloquently before a recent, drawing a parallel to his personal experience of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this season is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after the tragedy. I went through a very similar experience when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It is difficult for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the coach when you arrive at the training complex and you find daily that spot empty. So you have to be incredibly resilient. And this is the explanation why for me they are performing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to deal with a problem that is not easy."

Just as explained well on a popular fan podcast, the reminders are ongoing. They are reminded by his song in the 20th minute, they notice his unused locker in the dressing room. Even during matches, a pass might be made and the realization arises: 'Ah, Jota would have reached that.' If Salah showed emotion in front of the Kop a matches ago, it signals that all is far from all right.

The Limits of Football Analysis and Human Emotion

Having covering football for two decades, one realizes there is a inherent lack of depth in most punditry. We genuinely do not know how an individual is feeling at any given moment and how that impacts their play. Jota's passing is one of the most stark examples. We are aware a terrible event occurred, and we comprehend the concept of grief. Beyond that lies an immeasurable layer of effect on different individuals at the organization. It is highly likely that a few of the players personally do not truly grasp its influence from one day to the next.

How the media covers this and how supporters dissect performances is clearly not the most important factor. On a practical level, mentioning Jota's death is difficult to accomplish in a brief soundbite before moving on to tactical issues. Outside of this specific tragedy and outside Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to preface each criticism of a footballer with an admission that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their parental relationships, personal challenges, or relationship problems.

An ex- professional footballer, the defender, lately spoke on radio about how his mother's passing halfway through his career affected his love for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he stated. "The highs and the lows that accompany it didn't really feel the same any more." And that was many years into his profession; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three short months.

The Final Point

So, whatever Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—be it success or if it's nothing—even if we omit reference to it whenever we discuss their fixtures, even if it isn't the reason for their final outcome, we must remember that a short time ago they lost not merely a exceptional footballer, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a friend.