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Just a couple of weeks ago, Liverpool appeared set to secure back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly a further Champions League crown. Their capacity to secure victories despite not peak displays seemed like the hallmark of genuine title-winners.

But, subsequently the tide shifted. The Anfield side continued with mediocre showings and started dropping points. Meanwhile, the North London club, known for their stubborn backline and squad depth, started closing the gap at the top.

Understanding a Slump in Modern Football

Can a trio of consecutive defeats represent a collapse? As with most football debates, it hinges entirely on your interpretation of the key word. Was the United midfielder world class? What does "elite" actually mean? Are Aston Villa a major club? What constitutes "big"? Is the Old Trafford outfit back? Alright, maybe that is one we can answer.

At a team of this club's size and last season's excellence, a mini setback seems a fair description. During a broadcast, ex- striker Neil Mellor was questioned how many defeats in a row would trigger alarm. His reply was six. At present, they are halfway to that threshold.

Pinpointing the On-Pitch Issues

One can observe obvious tactical issues. Integrating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a different style to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a difficulty. Likewise, incorporating a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the midfield. Observers of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a technical talent who elevates those beside him, connecting play seamlessly rather than imposing himself upon the game.

Additionally, a number of players who excelled last season—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 tragic death of their colleague and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Impact: Grief on the Pitch

We are now just over three short months since the devastating loss of their friend. While the outside world moves on quickly, shifting attention to global matters, the club's players continue training and playing each day in the absence of their mate.

It is impossible to gauge how every player and member of the backroom team is coping on any given day. It requires a great deal of projection. Perhaps Salah failed to defend in a recent match because he lacked energy. Or perhaps his performance level is down a few percentage points because he is grieving for his friend.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke insightfully before a recent, drawing a parallel to his own experience of the loss of a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "The way they are performing this season is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after Jota's loss. I lived exactly the same thing when I was a player two decades past."

"It's not easy for the players, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the coach 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 performing not well, but exceptionally well. Because they are attempting to handle a problem that is not easy."

As explained succinctly on a well-known supporter's show, the memory triggers are constant. They are reminded by his chant in the 20th minute, they notice his empty locker in the changing room. In the middle of games, a pass might be played and the thought arises: 'Ah, Diogo would have been there.' If Salah showed emotion in front of the Kop a matches ago, it signals that everything is not normal.

The Limits of Punditry and Human Emotion

Having reporting on football for two decades, one realizes there is a inherent lack of depth in the majority of analysis. We simply do not know how an individual is coping at any given time and how that impacts their play. Jota's passing is one of the clearest illustrations. We know a tragic thing occurred, and we comprehend the nature of grief. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of impact on various people at the organization. It is highly likely that some of the players themselves don't truly understand its effect from one moment to the next.

How the press covers this and how fans analyze performances is clearly far from the most important thing. On a practical basis, mentioning Jota's passing is difficult to accomplish in a short segment before moving on to tactical concerns. Beyond this particular event and beyond Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to qualify each criticism of a footballer with an admission that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their parental situation, personal struggles, or marital problems.

An ex- pro footballer, Nedum Onuoha, lately talked on radio about how his mother's passing midway through his career impacted his passion for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he stated. "The highs and the lows that come with it no longer felt the same any more." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been only three short months.

The Final Thought

Therefore, whatever Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—be it success or failure—even if we don't mention it whenever we discuss their matches, even if it isn't the cause for their eventual outcome, we should not forget that a short time ago they suffered the loss of not just a exceptional footballer, but, crucially, they lost a friend.