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Only a few weeks back, Liverpool seemed destined to claim back-to-back Premier League titles and possibly a further Champions League crown. Their capacity to win despite not optimal performances seemed like the mark of genuine title-winners.

But, subsequently the tide turned. The Anfield side persisted with mediocre showings and started losing points. Meanwhile, the North London club, known for their resolute defense and strength in depth, began narrowing the distance at the summit.

Defining a Crisis in Today's Game

Can three straight losses constitute a crisis? As with many sporting discussions, it hinges completely on your interpretation of the central term. Was the United midfielder world class? What does "world class" actually mean? Is the Birmingham club a major club? What constitutes "major"? Are Manchester United back? Well, perhaps that's one we might settle.

At a team of Liverpool's stature and previous campaign's brilliance, a minor setback seems a reasonable description. On a recent broadcast, ex- striker Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would trigger alarm. His reply was six. At present, they are halfway to that point.

Pinpointing the Tactical Problems

One can observe clear tactical problems. Integrating new signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a distinct skill set to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a challenge. Likewise, blending in a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a technical talent who improves those beside him, connecting play seamlessly rather than imposing himself on the game.

Furthermore, a host of players who shone last season—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently below their best. In fact, most of the team is. Yet they all have one profound, fresh experience: the passing of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Impact: Loss on the Pitch

It has been just over three months since the tragic passing of their teammate. Although the wider world moves on rapidly, shifting focus to other matters, the club's squad carry on training and playing day after day without their mate.

This is impossible to gauge how each individual and member of the backroom team is coping from one day to the next. It requires a significant amount of speculation. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a particular match because he was tired. But perhaps his performance level is down a small per cent due to the fact he misses his friend.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented eloquently before a recent, making a parallel to his own experience of losing a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this campaign is fantastic," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after the tragedy. I went through a very similar experience when I was a player two decades past."

"It is difficult for the players, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the manager when you arrive at the training complex and you find daily that place empty. So you must be incredibly resilient. And this is the explanation why for me they are doing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are trying to deal with a problem that is not easy."

Just as explained succinctly on a well-known supporter's show, the reminders are ongoing. They hear his chant in the 20th minute, they notice his unused locker in the changing room. In the middle of matches, a through ball might be made and the thought arises: 'Oh, Diogo would have been there.' When the Egyptian was seen crying in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that everything is far from all right.

The Limits of Punditry and Personal Grief

After reporting on football for twenty years, one realizes there is a inherent superficiality in the majority of punditry. We genuinely cannot know how an individual is coping at any given time and how that impacts their performance. Jota's passing is one of the most stark illustrations. We are aware a terrible thing occurred, and we understand the nature of grief. But further lies an immeasurable layer of impact on different individuals at the organization. It is very possible that a few of the players personally don't fully grasp its effect from one moment to the next.

The way the press reports on this and how fans analyze performances is clearly far from the primary thing. On a practical level, bringing up Jota's passing is challenging to do in a short soundbite before transitioning to tactical issues. Outside of this specific event and beyond Liverpool, it would seem strange to qualify every critique of a player with an admission that we are largely ignorant about their personal lives—be it their family relationships, health struggles, or relationship problems.

A former professional footballer, the defender, recently spoke on radio about how his mother's passing halfway through his playing days impacted his love for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he stated. "Some of the highs and the low points 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 short months.

The Final Point

So, whatever Liverpool achieve in the coming months—if it's something or failure—whether or not we omit reference to it whenever we discuss their fixtures, even if it isn't the cause for their eventual result, we should not forget that a short time ago they lost not just a brilliant player, but, more importantly, they lost a friend.