🔗 Share this article

Only a few weeks ago, the Merseyside club seemed set to secure back-to-back Premier League championships and possibly a further Champions League trophy. Their ability to win without peak displays seemed like the hallmark of true champions.

But, subsequently the momentum turned. Liverpool persisted with average showings and started dropping matches. At the same time, the North London club, renowned for their stubborn backline and strength in depth, began closing the distance at the summit.

Understanding a Slump in Modern Football

Does three straight defeats constitute a collapse? As with many football debates, it hinges entirely on your definition of the key term. Is Paul Scholes world class? What does "world class" actually signify? Is the Birmingham club a major club? What defines "major"? Is the Old Trafford outfit returned to prominence? Alright, maybe that is a question we might answer.

At a team of Liverpool's size and previous campaign's brilliance, a mini setback appears a reasonable assessment. On a recent broadcast, ex- striker Neil Mellor was asked how many defeats in a row would trigger alarm. His reply was six. At present, they are midway to that particular threshold.

Pinpointing the Tactical Problems

There are obvious tactical problems. Integrating recent signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a different skill set to departed key players Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a challenge. Likewise, incorporating a talented playmaker like Florian Wirtz has reportedly unbalanced the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a technical talent who elevates those around him, connecting play seamlessly rather than forcing himself on the game.

Additionally, a number of individuals who excelled last season—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now underperforming. Actually, the majority of the team are. And every one of them share one profound, fresh experience: the tragic death of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Impact: Loss on the Field

We are now just more than three short months since the devastating passing of their teammate. Although the wider world progresses quickly, diverting attention to global events, Liverpool's squad continue going to work each day without their mate.

It is impossible to gauge how each individual and member of the backroom team is coping from one day to the next. There is a great deal of projection. Perhaps Salah failed to defend in a particular match simply he was tired. Or maybe his performance level is down a small percentage points due to the fact he is grieving for his friend.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a recent, drawing a comparison to his own experience of the loss of a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, while at Sevilla. "How they are performing this season is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after the loss. I lived a very similar experience 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 coach when you come to the training complex and you see daily that spot empty. So you have to be incredibly resilient. And this is the reason why for me they are doing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are attempting to deal with a problem that is not easy."

As summarized well on a well-known fan podcast, the memory triggers are ongoing. The players are reminded by his chant in the first half, they see his empty locker in the changing room. In the middle of matches, a pass might be made and the realization arises: 'Ah, Jota would have been there.' When the Egyptian showed emotion in front of the Kop a matches ago, it indicates that everything is not all right.

The Boundaries of Football Analysis and Human Emotion

Having covering football for two decades, one comes to believe there is a inherent lack of depth in most analysis. We simply cannot know how an individual is feeling at any given moment and how that impacts their play. Jota's death is one of the clearest illustrations. We are aware a terrible thing happened, and we understand the nature of grief. Beyond that lies an intangible level of effect on various individuals at the organization. It is very possible that some of the squad themselves don't fully grasp its influence from one moment to the next.

The way the press reports on this and how fans analyze displays is obviously not the primary thing. On a practical level, bringing up Jota's passing is difficult to do in a brief soundbite before moving on to tactical concerns. Outside of this particular event and beyond Liverpool, it would seem strange to qualify every criticism of a footballer with an acknowledgment that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their parental relationships, health struggles, or relationship problems.

A former professional player, the defender, recently talked on radio about how his mother's passing halfway through his career impacted his love for the game. "I lost some joy in 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 half a career; for Liverpool and Jota, it has been just three months.

The Final Thought

So, whatever Liverpool achieve in the coming months—if it's something or failure—even if we don't mention it whenever we discuss their fixtures, and even if it is not the sole cause for their eventual outcome, we should not forget that a short time ago they lost not merely a exceptional footballer, but, more importantly, they said goodbye to a friend.