Liverpool's Current Struggles: The Ways Diogo Jota's Loss Impacts the Team

Just a few weeks back, Liverpool appeared set to claim back-to-back Premier League titles and potentially another Champions League trophy. The team's ability to win despite not peak displays felt like the mark of genuine champions.

But, subsequently the momentum turned. Liverpool persisted with mediocre showings and started losing matches. Meanwhile, Arsenal, renowned for their resolute defense and strength in depth, started narrowing the distance at the summit.

Defining a Slump in Modern Football

Can three straight losses constitute a crisis? Like most football debates, it hinges entirely on your definition of the key word. Is Paul Scholes world class? How do you define "world class" even signify? Are Aston Villa a major club? What constitutes "major"? Are Manchester United back? Alright, maybe that is a question we can answer.

At a team of this club's size and last season's excellence, a mini crisis seems a fair assessment. During a radio show, former forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would trigger panic. His reply was six. At present, they are midway to that particular point.

Identifying the Tactical Problems

One can observe obvious tactical problems. Assimilating recent additions like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who offer a distinct style to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, creates a difficulty. Likewise, blending in a gifted playmaker like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a technical talent who elevates those around him, linking play effortlessly rather than forcing himself upon the game.

Additionally, a number of players who excelled last season—including Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are currently below their best. In fact, the majority of the team are. Yet they all have one profound, recent event: the tragic death of their colleague and friend, Diogo Jota.

The Invisible Effect: Loss on the Field

We are now just over three months since the devastating passing of their teammate. Although the outside world progresses rapidly, diverting attention to global matters, Liverpool's squad carry on going to work each day without their friend.

It is impossible to know how every player and member of the backroom team is dealing on any given day. It requires a great deal of projection. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a recent match simply he lacked energy. Or perhaps his performance level is down a small percentage points due to the fact he misses his friend.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a fixture, drawing a comparison to his personal experience of losing a teammate, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "The way they are doing this campaign is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Particularly after the tragedy. I went through a very similar thing when I was a player 20 years ago."

"It is difficult for the players, it's not easy for the club, it's not easy for the coach when you arrive at the training complex and you find daily that spot empty. So you have to be incredibly resilient. And this is the reason why for me they are doing not well, even better than good. Because they are attempting to handle a situation that is not easy."

As summarized succinctly on a popular supporter's show, the memory triggers are ongoing. They are reminded by his song in the 20th minute, they notice his unused locker in the dressing room. In the middle of games, a pass might be made and the realization arises: 'Ah, Jota would have reached that.' If Salah was seen crying in front of the Kop a few games ago, it signals that all is not normal.

The Boundaries of Punditry and Personal Grief

Having reporting on football for twenty years, one realizes there is a inherent lack of depth in the majority of analysis. We simply do not know how an player is feeling at any specific moment and how that affects their performance. Jota's death is one of the most stark illustrations. We know a terrible thing occurred, and we comprehend the nature of sorrow. Beyond that lies an immeasurable level of effect on various individuals at the club. It is highly likely that some of the squad themselves don't fully understand its influence from one day to the next.

How the press covers this and how supporters dissect performances is obviously not the most important factor. On a practical basis, bringing up Jota's death is challenging to do in a short segment before transitioning to tactical concerns. Beyond this specific tragedy and beyond Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to preface every criticism of a player with an acknowledgment that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their parental relationships, health struggles, or marital difficulties.

An ex- pro player, the defender, lately spoke on radio about how his mother's passing midway through his playing days affected his love for the game. "I didn't enjoy football as much," he stated. "The highs 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 short months.

The Final Thought

So, regardless of what Liverpool accomplish this season—if it's something or failure—even if we don't mention it every time we discuss their matches, even if it is not the sole cause for their final outcome, we should not forget that a few weeks ago they lost not just a brilliant footballer, but, more importantly, they said goodbye to a dear friend.