Why Salah is Emerging as a ‘Minor Concern’ for Liverpool

Mohamed Salah’s Defensive Role Under Scrutiny

It appears that Mohamed Salah’s reduced involvement in defensive duties has started to present challenges for Liverpool, particularly when facing stronger opponents.

It’s understandable that manager Arne Slot might have instructed Salah to conserve energy for attacking plays, allowing him to stay positioned high on the right wing. This tactical decision has certainly elevated Salah’s status as a top-tier goalscorer globally. However, the defenders behind him are struggling to adequately manage their responsibilities, leading to significant issues for whoever is playing at right-back this season.

Whether it’s Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, or Dominik Szoboszlai filling that role, they often find themselves at a disadvantage due to being outnumbered in defensive situations, resulting in a 2-on-1 overload. This weakness was glaringly exploited during the recent match against Chelsea, contributing to their defeat, heightening the concern that other teams may adopt similar strategies.

Is Salah Being Allowed to Bypass Defensive Duties?

Firstly, it would be surprising if Slot actually instructed Salah to assist his right-back with defensive tasks. When Salah appeared to neglect his responsibility to track Chelsea’s left-back, Marc Cucurella, during the match, it was starkly evident—and it’s doubtful that Slot would tolerate such indifference.

Instead, it seems Slot is allowing Salah the freedom to focus solely on attacking, which aligns with tactics observed in various other teams that prioritize keeping their best attackers fresh for offensive roles. While this approach can pay dividends, there are crucial moments in a game when a player must backtrack to help mitigate danger, particularly when the team is under pressure and conceding chances.

Salah has proven capable of defensive work, as demonstrated during last season’s victory over Manchester City, and it is clear he can adapt when necessary. If the intention is to keep him positioned forward, then this analysis isn’t an indictment of Salah for maintaining his role.

The Real Issue Lies in Liverpool’s Setup Behind Salah

The primary concern regarding Salah is rooted in how Liverpool functions defensively behind him, especially against formidable rivals.

The midfielders need to react more swiftly to support the backline; otherwise, they risk creating spaces for opponents to exploit. In the recent match against Chelsea, it seemed that Liverpool players, including Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, were slow to step in and cover, leaving critical gaps in front of the defense due to a loss of man in midfield.

Such issues may not be highlighted when Liverpool is dominating possession—as evidenced by their successful title run last season—but they need to refine their approach against top-tier teams that can take advantage of these vulnerabilities.

Liverpool’s Struggle for Match Control

Salah’s role hasn’t significantly changed this season; however, his lack of goal contributions has accentuated the defensive aspects of his game.

Despite not being overly concerned about his finishing abilities—Salah has a history of finding form—I did notice he made some questionable decisions in terms of shooting or passing during the Chelsea game. But I’m confident that he will return to scoring soon.

My larger worry for Liverpool right now pertains to their loss of control in matches when compared to the last campaign.

This past week has been particularly tough, with consecutive defeats across Premier League and Champions League encounters, and the team’s performance levels have failed to meet expectations.

Of course, factors such as offseason personnel changes and the number of players who missed pre-season can’t be ignored; last term, under Slot’s management, Liverpool effectively managed their games with a solid defensive structure and a more controlled style of play compared to the Klopp era. Currently, however, the team exhibits a chaotic style of play that was evident during the final thirty minutes against Chelsea, where they created several scoring opportunities but also surrendered too many chances, culminating in their loss.

Strategies for Slot to Address Liverpool’s Issues

Several aspects of Liverpool’s play need recalibrating, especially their tendency to concede possession at crucial moments. Nonetheless, I don’t interpret this as an unsolvable dilemma.

Despite the introduction of new and diverse players, there’s no need to overhaul their playstyle. Instead, a return to more patience and composure is necessary.

On a positive note, Liverpool finds themselves just a point behind Arsenal, providing an opportunity to rectify their shortcomings. The fitness of players who missed a proper pre-season—such as Alexander Isak, Mac Allister, Bradley, and Hugo Ekitike—is expected to improve, contributing to the team’s physical dynamics.

Moreover, establishing strong on-pitch connections, be it between Salah and his right-back or with other players, requires time. Therefore, panic isn’t warranted just yet.

It seems that in the current Premier League landscape, any club, including Arsenal and Manchester City, can find themselves facing a similar state of disarray at any given moment.

I initially doubted that Manchester City would remain in the title race, but with Erling Haaland maintaining his hunger and fitness, their prospects look brighter. Arsenal appears to have returned to form defensively and seems to have picked up from where they left off, complemented by fresh talent and depth.

Liverpool, on the other hand, is currently in a rebuilding phase. As they seek the right balance and combinations, there is significant anticipation for their upward trajectory as the season progresses.

Danny Murphy shared these insights while conversing with Chris Bevan from BBC Sport.