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Just a few weeks ago, the Merseyside club appeared set to secure back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly a further Champions League trophy. Their ability to secure victories despite not optimal performances seemed like the hallmark of genuine title-winners.

But, then the tide shifted. The Anfield side persisted with average showings and started dropping points. Meanwhile, the North London club, known for their stubborn backline and strength in depth, began narrowing the distance at the top.

Understanding a Crisis in Today's Game

Does three consecutive defeats constitute a crisis? As with many football debates, it hinges completely on your interpretation of the central term. Was the United midfielder elite? How do you define "world class" actually mean? Is the Birmingham club a big team? What defines "major"? Are Manchester United back? Well, maybe that is a question we can answer.

At a team of this club's stature and previous campaign's excellence, a minor setback appears a reasonable description. On a recent broadcast, former striker Neil Mellor was asked how many defeats in a row would trigger alarm. His reply was six. Currently, they are midway to that particular point.

Pinpointing the On-Pitch Problems

There are obvious footballing problems. Assimilating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct skill set to previous stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Likewise, blending in a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the engine room. Observers of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a technical talent who elevates those around him, connecting play seamlessly rather than imposing himself upon the game.

Furthermore, a number of players who shone last season—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently below their best. In fact, most of the team are. Yet every one of them share one significant, fresh event: the passing of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Effect: Loss on the Pitch

It has been just over three months since the tragic loss of their teammate. Although the wider world moves on rapidly, diverting focus to global matters, Liverpool's players continue going to work each day in the absence of their mate.

It is not possible to gauge how every individual and member of the backroom team is dealing from one day to the next. There is a significant amount of speculation. Maybe Salah didn't track back in a recent match because he was tired. Or maybe his performance level is down a small per cent 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 personal situation of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "The way they are performing this season is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after the tragedy. I lived exactly the same thing when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It's not easy for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the manager when you arrive at the training ground and you find daily that spot empty. So you have to be very strong. And this is the reason why for me they are performing not well, even better than good. Because they are attempting to deal with a problem that is not easy."

Just as summarized well on a well-known supporter's show, the memory triggers are constant. The players hear his chant in the first half, they notice his unused peg in the dressing room. Even during matches, a pass might be played and the thought arises: 'Ah, Jota would have reached that.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a few games ago, it signals that all is far from normal.

The Boundaries of Punditry and Human Emotion

Having reporting on football for twenty years, one realizes there is a fundamental lack of depth in most analysis. We simply do not know how an individual is coping at any specific time and how that affects their play. Jota's passing is one of the clearest illustrations. We know a terrible event occurred, and we understand the concept of sorrow. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of effect on different individuals at the organization. It is highly likely that some of the squad themselves do not truly understand its effect from one day to the next.

The way the press reports on this and how fans dissect displays is obviously not the primary factor. On a functional basis, bringing up Jota's passing is difficult to accomplish in a short segment before moving on to tactical concerns. Beyond this specific tragedy and outside Liverpool, it would seem strange to qualify every criticism of a player with an acknowledgment that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their family situation, personal struggles, or marital difficulties.

A former pro footballer, the defender, recently 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 said. "Some of the high points and the low points that come with it no longer felt 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 Thought

So, regardless of what Liverpool accomplish in the coming months—if it's something or if it's nothing—even if we don't mention it whenever we discuss their fixtures, and even if it isn't the cause for their final outcome, we must remember that a few weeks ago they lost not merely a exceptional player, but, crucially, they lost a dear friend.