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Only a few weeks ago, the Merseyside club seemed destined to secure back-to-back Premier League championships and potentially a further Champions League trophy. Their capacity to win despite not optimal displays seemed like the hallmark of genuine champions.

But, subsequently the tide turned. The Anfield side continued with average performances and started dropping matches. At the same time, the North London club, known for their stubborn backline and strength in depth, started narrowing the distance at the summit.

Understanding a Slump in Modern Football

Does a trio of consecutive defeats represent a collapse? Like most sporting discussions, it depends completely on your interpretation of the central term. Is Paul Scholes world class? How do you define "elite" even mean? Are Aston Villa a major club? What constitutes "major"? Are Manchester United returned to prominence? Alright, perhaps that is a question we can settle.

For a club of this club's stature and last season's brilliance, a minor setback appears a fair description. During a radio show, former striker Neil Mellor was questioned how many defeats in a row would trigger alarm. His reply was six. Currently, they are midway to that threshold.

Pinpointing the Tactical Problems

One can observe clear footballing problems. Integrating recent additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct style to previous stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a difficulty. Similarly, blending in a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a technical player who improves those beside him, connecting play seamlessly rather than imposing himself on the game.

Furthermore, a host of individuals who shone last season—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently underperforming. In fact, most of the squad are. And they all share one significant, recent event: the passing of their colleague and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Impact: Grief on the Pitch

It has been just over three short months since the tragic loss of their teammate. Although the outside world progresses quickly, diverting attention to other matters, Liverpool's players continue going to work day after day in the absence of their mate.

This is impossible to know how every individual and member of the backroom team is dealing on any given day. It requires a great deal of projection. Maybe Salah failed to defend in a recent match simply he was tired. But perhaps his performance level is down a small per cent due to the fact he is grieving for his pal.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, spoke insightfully before a fixture, drawing a comparison to his personal experience of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, while 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 players, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the manager when you arrive at the training complex and you see daily that spot empty. So you have to be very strong. And this is the explanation why for me they are doing not well, even better than good. Because they are trying to handle a problem that is not easy."

As summarized well on a well-known supporter's show, the memory triggers are constant. They hear his chant in the first half, they see his empty locker in the changing room. Even during games, a through ball might be played and the thought arises: 'Oh, Jota would have been there.' When the Egyptian was seen crying in front of the Kop a few games ago, it signals that everything is far from all right.

The Boundaries of Football Analysis and Personal Grief

After covering football for two decades, one realizes there is a fundamental superficiality in the majority of analysis. We genuinely do not know how an player is coping at any specific moment and how that impacts their performance. Jota's passing is one of the most stark examples. We are aware a terrible thing occurred, and we comprehend the concept of sorrow. Beyond that lies an intangible layer of effect on various people at the club. It is highly likely that a few of the players personally don't truly understand its effect from one moment to the next.

How the media reports on this and how supporters analyze displays is obviously not the most important factor. On a practical basis, mentioning Jota's passing is challenging to accomplish in a short segment before transitioning to on-field concerns. Outside of this specific event and outside Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to preface every criticism of a footballer with an admission that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their family situation, health struggles, or relationship problems.

A former pro player, Nedum Onuoha, lately spoke on radio about how his mother's death midway through his career affected his passion for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he stated. "Some of the highs and the lows that accompany it no longer felt the same after that." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three months.

The Concluding Thought

So, regardless of what Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—if it's something or failure—whether or not we omit reference to it every time we discuss their matches, even if it is not the sole reason for their final result, we should not forget that a short time ago they suffered the loss of not merely a exceptional player, but, more importantly, they lost a friend.