Why Mohamed Salah’s defensive role is causing issues for Liverpool
Danny Murphy analyzes how Mohamed Salah’s reduced defensive workload and Liverpool’s setup on the right flank have exposed the team to vulnerabilities against top opponents.
Defensive freedom for Salah
Salah’s minimal defensive duties may be deliberate, allowing him to conserve energy for attacking transitions. Yet this approach has left Liverpool vulnerable on the right flank, leading to a two-on-one overload for the right-back against higher-quality teams.
Structural gaps behind the winger
Players like Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley or Dominik Szoboszlai have struggled to cover the space effectively. When midfielders like Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister arrive too late, gaps appear between lines, which strong opponents exploit.
Losing control of matches
Though Salah’s scoring form has dipped, his defensive absence is more noticeable when Liverpool fail to dominate possession. The team’s recent three-match losing streak has highlighted a loss of control and composure compared to last season.
Path to improvement
Liverpool must regain patience and structure without overhauling their style. As new signings reach peak fitness and relationships on the pitch develop, the side can tighten up defensively. They remain just a point behind Arsenal in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s success hinges on balancing Salah’s attacking freedom with a more cohesive defensive structure behind him.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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