Opinion: Salah is a 'minor issue' for Liverpool

It seems that Mohamed Salah’s lack of defensive contribution is turning into a "small problem" for Liverpool, particularly against top opponents. This is the perspective shared by ex-footballer Danny Murphy on BBC Sports.

When Salah is exempt from defending

It is completely understandable if coach Arne Slot instructs Salah not to drop back deep, as positioning himself on the right wing to launch counterattacks is what makes him one of the most lethal scorers in the world. Of course, there are moments when an attacker should voluntarily help out defensively, and Salah has done this well before, such as in the win against Man City last season.

However, the players behind Salah fail to cover properly, leaving Liverpool’s right-back frequently outnumbered. Whether it is Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, or Dominik Szoboszlai guarding that flank, they all face difficulties. This was evident in the match against Chelsea, where the opponent scored the decisive goal exploiting that weakness. The problem is that other teams can exploit it similarly.