Concerns Arise Over Salah's Defensive Role at Liverpool
Mohamed Salah's limited defensive contributions have become a concern for Liverpool, particularly against stronger opponents.
It is understandable if Liverpool manager Arne Slot has instructed Salah to refrain from tracking back, as his positioning high on the right has made him one of the most effective goal scorers globally.
However, the players positioned behind him are not adequately compensating for his lack of defensive work, which has created significant challenges for the right-backs this season.
Whether it has been Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, or Dominik Szoboszlai, they have faced overwhelming situations due to a 2v1 advantage for the opposing team on their flank.
This vulnerability was evident in the recent match against Chelsea, which ultimately led to their winning goal. The worry is that more teams will capitalize on this weakness.
'Salah Has Freedom to Avoid Defensive Duties'
Firstly, I find it hard to believe that Slot is instructing Salah to assist defensively. If Salah was directed to track Chelsea's left-back, Marc Cucurella, it was clear that he did not comply, and Slot would not tolerate such a lack of effort.
Instead, Slot appears to be granting Salah the freedom to focus on attacking, a strategy seen with various teams that prefer their players to conserve energy for offensive plays.
Nevertheless, there are moments in a match where, when under pressure, a player must take responsibility and track back. Salah has demonstrated his ability to do this, as seen during Liverpool's victory at Manchester City last season, where his defensive effort was exceptional.
However, it seems he was specifically asked to remain forward in that instance, which is why I am not criticizing him if he has been instructed to stay up the pitch.
'The Real Issue Lies in Liverpool's Setup Behind Salah'
The core issue with Salah revolves around Liverpool's setup behind him, especially when facing formidable opponents. Other players need to provide quicker and more effective support.
It appeared that Chelsea was able to advance the ball and exploit space on their left side due to Liverpool's delayed response from midfielders like Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister, who left gaps in front of the defense.
This problem is mitigated when Liverpool controls the game against weaker teams, as evidenced by their previous league successes, but they must tighten their approach against top sides that will exploit such weaknesses.
'Liverpool Struggles to Maintain Control'
Salah's role has not significantly changed this season, but the lack of goals may have intensified scrutiny on his defensive responsibilities.
Personally, I am not overly concerned about his form; he has a track record of returning to form in terms of scoring. He found himself in excellent positions against Chelsea but sometimes opted to shoot when a pass was more appropriate, and vice versa. Nevertheless, those opportunities will continue to arise, and the goals will come.
My primary concern regarding Liverpool at the moment is their diminished control over games compared to last season.
This past week has been disappointing, with three consecutive losses in the Premier League and Champions League, compounded by performance levels that have not met expectations.
There are mitigating factors, including significant personnel changes over the summer and several players missing pre-season training. Last season, Slot's Liverpool was adept at managing games, a quality that seems to be lacking now.
Their defensive structure appeared solid, and Slot's possession-focused strategy provided greater control. This was a noticeable improvement from their previous approach under Jurgen Klopp.
At present, however, the team appears somewhat chaotic. The frenetic pace in the last thirty minutes of the Chelsea match resembled a cup tie, with opportunities to win squandered alongside numerous defensive lapses, leading to their defeat.
'How Can Slot Address Liverpool's Issues?'
There are several aspects of Liverpool's game that require attention, and while they have been prone to turnovers, I do not view this as an insurmountable problem.
Despite the arrival of new players with different skill sets, there is no need for a complete overhaul of their playing style. They simply need to exercise more patience and composure.
Fortunately, they are only one point behind league leaders Arsenal, providing them with the opportunity to rectify current issues.
As players who missed pre-season, such as Alexander Isak, Mac Allister, Bradley, and Hugo Ekitike, regain their fitness, the physical aspect of their game will improve.
Building effective partnerships on the field also requires time, whether it is between the right-back and Salah or Florian Wirtz and Isak.
Thus, there is no need for panic. It seems that in the current Premier League landscape, all teams are just one week away from facing criticism.
The challenges Liverpool faced this week will likely be encountered by Arsenal and Manchester City at some point this season as well.
While I did not expect City to remain in the title race, if Erling Haaland maintains his hunger and fitness, they certainly will.
Arsenal, defensively, looks solid again and appears comfortable on the pitch after seven games, which resembles a continuation of last season, albeit with added quality and depth.
For Liverpool, this feels more like a rebuilding phase. While there is still work to be done to establish the right balance and combinations, there is a general expectation for improvement as the season progresses.
Danny Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.