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Just a couple of weeks back, Liverpool appeared destined to secure back-to-back Premier League titles and potentially another Champions League crown. Their capacity to secure victories without optimal displays seemed like the hallmark of genuine title-winners.

But, subsequently the momentum shifted. The Anfield side persisted with average performances and began losing points. At the same time, the North London club, renowned for their resolute backline and squad depth, began closing the distance at the top.

Understanding a Crisis in Today's Game

Can three straight defeats constitute a collapse? Like many football debates, it hinges entirely on your definition of the central term. Is Paul Scholes elite? What does "world class" even mean? Is the Birmingham club a major club? What constitutes "major"? Are Manchester United back? Well, perhaps that is one we can settle.

For a club of Liverpool's stature and last season's brilliance, a minor crisis seems a fair assessment. During a radio show, former forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would cause panic. His answer was six. Currently, they are halfway to that particular point.

Pinpointing the Tactical Problems

One can observe obvious tactical issues. Integrating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct style to previous key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Similarly, incorporating a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the midfield. Observers of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a creative player who improves those around him, linking play effortlessly rather than forcing himself upon the game.

Additionally, a host of individuals who excelled last campaign—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently below their best. In fact, most of the squad is. And they all have one significant, recent experience: the passing of their colleague and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Impact: Loss on the Pitch

It has been just over three short months since the tragic loss of their friend. Although the wider world progresses quickly, diverting attention to other events, Liverpool's squad continue going to work each day without their friend.

It is impossible to gauge how every player and member of the backroom team is coping on any given day. There is a significant amount of speculation. Perhaps Salah failed to defend in a recent match simply he was tired. But maybe his performance level is down a few per cent due to the fact he misses his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a fixture, making a comparison to his own experience of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this campaign is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after the tragedy. I lived a very similar thing when I was a player two decades past."

"It is difficult for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the coach when you come to the training complex and you see every day that place empty. So you have to be very strong. And this is the explanation why for me they are performing not good, even better than good. Because they are trying to handle a situation that is not easy."

Just as summarized well on a well-known supporter's show, the reminders are constant. They hear his song in the 20th minute, they notice his unused peg in the changing room. Even during games, a through ball might be made and the thought arises: 'Oh, Jota would have been there.' If Salah showed emotion in front of the Kop a few games ago, it signals that all is far from normal.

The Boundaries of Football Analysis and Human Emotion

After covering football for twenty years, one comes to believe there is a fundamental superficiality in the majority of analysis. We genuinely do not know how an player is feeling at any given moment and how that impacts their performance. Jota's passing is one of the most stark examples. We are aware a tragic thing occurred, and we comprehend the concept of sorrow. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of impact on different individuals at the organization. It is very possible that a few of the squad themselves don't truly grasp its effect from one day to the next.

How the media covers this and how supporters analyze performances is clearly not the most important thing. On a practical basis, bringing up Jota's death is difficult to accomplish in a short segment before moving on to tactical issues. Beyond this particular event and outside Liverpool, it would seem strange to qualify each criticism of a footballer with an admission that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their family situation, personal challenges, or relationship problems.

An ex- pro player, Nedum Onuoha, lately talked on a broadcast about how his mother's death midway through his playing days affected his love for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he said. "Some of the high points and the lows that come with it didn't really feel the same after that." And that was many years into his profession; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three months.

The Concluding Thought

Therefore, whatever Liverpool accomplish this season—be it success or if it's nothing—even if we omit reference to it whenever we discuss their matches, and even if it is not the sole cause for their eventual outcome, we must remember that a few weeks ago they suffered the loss of not just a exceptional player, but, crucially, they said goodbye to a friend.