🔗 Share this article

Just a couple of weeks ago, Liverpool seemed destined to secure back-to-back Premier League championships and potentially a further Champions League trophy. Their ability to secure victories despite not optimal performances seemed like the hallmark of true title-winners.

But, then the tide turned. The Anfield side continued with mediocre performances and began losing points. At the same time, the North London club, renowned for their resolute backline and strength in depth, started closing the distance at the top.

Defining a Slump in Today's Game

Does a trio of consecutive losses constitute a collapse? As with many sporting discussions, it depends entirely on your definition of the central word. Was the United midfielder world class? How do you define "world class" actually signify? Are Aston Villa a major team? What constitutes "major"? Are Manchester United back? Well, maybe that is a question we might settle.

At a team of this club's stature and last season's brilliance, a mini crisis appears a reasonable assessment. On a recent radio show, former forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would trigger alarm. His reply was six. At present, they are halfway to that particular threshold.

Identifying the Tactical Problems

There are obvious tactical problems. Integrating new signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a different skill set to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Similarly, incorporating a gifted attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the engine room. Experts of the Bundesliga note that Wirtz is a technical player who elevates those around him, linking play seamlessly rather than forcing himself on the game.

Additionally, a host of individuals 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 team are. And they all have one significant, recent event: the tragic death of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Impact: Loss on the Pitch

We are now just over three months since the devastating passing of their friend. Although the wider world progresses rapidly, shifting focus to other events, Liverpool's squad continue training and playing day after day without their friend.

It is impossible to know how every player and member of the backroom team is dealing from one day to the next. There is a significant amount of projection. Maybe Salah didn't track back in a particular match simply he lacked energy. Or perhaps his form is down a few per cent because he is grieving for his friend.

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a fixture, drawing a parallel to his own situation of the loss of a teammate, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "The way they are doing this season is remarkable," 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 organization, it's not easy for the manager when you arrive at the training ground and you see every day that place empty. So you have to be very strong. And this is the reason why for me they are performing not well, but exceptionally well. Because they are attempting to handle a situation that is not easy."

Just as summarized succinctly on a well-known fan podcast, the reminders are ongoing. The players are reminded by his chant in the 20th minute, they notice his unused peg in the dressing room. In the middle of matches, a pass might be made and the realization arises: 'Oh, Diogo would have reached that.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that all is far from normal.

The Boundaries of Punditry and Human Emotion

After covering football for two decades, one comes to believe there is a fundamental lack of depth in the majority of punditry. We simply cannot know how an individual is feeling at any given time and how that impacts their play. Jota's passing is one of the most stark illustrations. We know a terrible thing happened, and we understand the concept of sorrow. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of effect on different people at the organization. It is highly likely that a few of the squad personally do not fully grasp its influence from one moment to the next.

The way the media reports on this and how fans dissect performances is clearly not the most important thing. On a practical level, bringing up Jota's passing is challenging to do in a brief segment before transitioning to on-field concerns. Beyond this specific tragedy and beyond Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to preface every criticism of a footballer with an admission that we are largely ignorant about their private circumstances—be it their family relationships, personal struggles, or marital difficulties.

An ex- professional player, the defender, recently talked on a broadcast about how his mother's death midway through his career affected his passion for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he said. "Some of the highs and the lows that accompany it no longer felt the same any more." And that was half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three months.

The Final Point

So, whatever Liverpool accomplish this season—be it success or failure—even if we omit reference to it every time we analyze their fixtures, and even if it isn't the reason for their eventual outcome, we should not forget that a short time ago they suffered the loss of not just a brilliant footballer, but, crucially, they lost a dear friend.