Liverpool's Current Difficulties: How Diogo Jota's Absence Continues to Affect the Squad

Just a couple of weeks back, Liverpool seemed set to secure back-to-back Premier League titles and potentially another Champions League crown. Their ability to secure victories without optimal performances felt like the hallmark of true title-winners.

But, subsequently the tide shifted. The Anfield side continued with mediocre performances and began losing points. Meanwhile, the North London club, renowned for their stubborn backline and squad depth, began closing the distance at the summit.

Defining a Crisis in Today's Game

Does three straight losses represent a crisis? Like many sporting discussions, it hinges entirely on your interpretation of the key term. Was the United midfielder elite? How do you define "world class" actually signify? Are Aston Villa a major club? What constitutes "major"? Are Manchester United returned to prominence? Alright, perhaps that's one we might answer.

For a club of Liverpool's stature and previous campaign's brilliance, a mini crisis seems a fair assessment. On a recent broadcast, ex- forward Neil Mellor was questioned how many losses in a row would trigger panic. His answer was six. At present, they are midway to that particular threshold.

Pinpointing the Tactical Problems

One can observe clear footballing problems. Assimilating new signings like Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, who provide a distinct style to departed stalwarts Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, presents a difficulty. Similarly, blending in a talented attacking midfielder like Florian Wirtz has reportedly disrupted the midfield. Experts of the Bundesliga point out that Wirtz is a creative talent who improves those around him, connecting play effortlessly rather than forcing himself upon the game.

Furthermore, a number of individuals who shone last campaign—such as Mo Salah, Ibrahima Konaté, Alexis Mac Allister, and Conor Bradley—are now underperforming. Actually, the majority of the team are. And they all share one significant, fresh event: the passing of their teammate and companion, Diogo Jota.

The Unseen Effect: Grief on the Pitch

We are now just over three short months since the devastating passing of their teammate. While the outside world progresses quickly, diverting attention to other events, Liverpool's players continue going to work each day in the absence of their friend.

This is impossible to know how every player and staff member is coping on any given day. It requires a significant amount of speculation. Perhaps Salah didn't track back in a recent match because he lacked energy. Or maybe his form is down a small per cent because he is grieving for his pal.

The London club's head coach, Enzo Maresca, commented insightfully before a fixture, making a comparison to his personal experience of the loss of a fellow player, Antonio Puerta, when at Sevilla. "How they are doing this season is remarkable," he said of Liverpool. "Especially after the loss. I went through a very similar thing when I was a player two decades past."

"It is difficult for the squad, it's not easy for the organization, it's not easy for the coach 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 explanation why for me they are doing not good, but exceptionally well. Because they are attempting to deal with a situation that is not easy."

Just as summarized succinctly on a popular fan podcast, the reminders are ongoing. They hear his chant in the first half, they notice his unused peg in the dressing room. Even during games, a through ball might be played and the thought arises: 'Oh, Diogo would have reached that.' If Salah was seen crying in front of the Kop a few games ago, it indicates that everything is far from normal.

The Limits of Football Analysis and Personal Grief

After reporting on football for two decades, one realizes there is a inherent lack of depth in the majority of punditry. We simply cannot know how an player is coping at any given moment and how that impacts their performance. Jota's passing is one of the most stark illustrations. We know a terrible event happened, and we understand the concept of grief. Beyond that lies an intangible level of effect on various people at the club. It is very possible that some of the players personally do not fully grasp its effect from one day to the next.

How the media reports on this and how supporters analyze performances is clearly far from the primary factor. On a functional basis, mentioning Jota's passing is challenging to do in a short soundbite before transitioning to tactical concerns. Beyond this specific event and beyond Liverpool, it would seem bizarre to qualify each critique of a footballer with an acknowledgment that we know so little about their personal lives—be it their parental situation, personal struggles, or marital difficulties.

An ex- pro player, Nedum Onuoha, lately talked on radio about how his mother's death halfway through his career affected his love for the game. "I lost some joy in football as much," he said. "Some of the highs 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 only three months.

The Concluding Point

Therefore, regardless of what Liverpool achieve this season—be it success or failure—whether or not we don't mention it every time we discuss their matches, and even if it isn't the cause for their final outcome, we should not forget that a few weeks ago they lost not merely a exceptional footballer, but, more importantly, they lost a dear friend.