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It appears that Mohamed Salah's limited defensive contributions is emerging as a slight problem for the Merseyside club, especially against stronger opponents.

It's understandable if coach the Liverpool boss has directed the forward not to track back, because staying high on the right side when regaining possession has established him as one of the global most dangerous goalscorers.

But, the teammates behind him are not providing sufficient cover, creating numerous issues for anyone has been at the right defensive position this season.

Be it Conor Bradley or another player, they end up in difficulty due to dealing with a numerical disadvantage on their side.

It proved a clear vulnerability in the recent match, resulting in the opponent's winning goal – and the concern is that more teams will smartly exploit this same area.

{'Salah Has License to Avoid Defensive Work

First of all, I doubt that Slot is instructing Salah to track back and support his defender.

Should he was told to mark the opposition's left-back his direct opponent, then this was very obvious he wasn't doing it, and Slot would not accept that.

Instead, Slot is allowing him the liberty to concentrate solely on offensive duties, which is fine – we've seen many instances of other teams adopting comparable approaches, with individuals who choose to save their energy for attacking actions.

Yes, there are always certain moments in a match when the team is conceding chances and one might feel compelled to help out.

It's known Salah is capable, since during they won at a top rival last season, his work rate was outstanding observed from him.

But, he must have been specifically asked to do so on that occasion, which is why I don't blame him if he has been asked to remain advanced.

'The Real Problem Is The Way Liverpool Are Structured Behind Salah'

The issue with Salah is more about how the side set up in defensive support, especially against top teams.

The other teammates must provide more and faster assistance, as it seemed like Chelsea were advancing the ball upfield and subsequently shifting it to their left side, because that's where the gap existed.

When a their midfielder went out too late – whether it be Ryan Gravenberch – then he left openings in the middle in front of the defence because Liverpool were losing a man from the midfield.

This situation becomes less of a problem when playing opponents that they control the ball against – evidenced by Liverpool past league wins using this way – but they need to improve because the elite teams will capitalize.

'Liverpool Are Losing Command of Games'

It is not as if Salah has changed his role recently, but since he is not scoring at the other end, maybe the defensive aspect of his performance is more noticeable.

I am not overly worried about his form, as he will return to form – he always does – in terms of his finishing.

He found great situations versus their opponents but perhaps shot when he could have assisted, and the opposite, but those chances will continue and the scores will come.

The biggest worry with the team currently is their lack of control in games relative to last season.

It has been a disappointing week for them, of course, not just to lose multiple games in a row in the Premier League and Champions League but as the performance levels have not been expectations.

There are mitigating factors, of course, with the numerous squad adjustments in the off-season and the several of individuals who missed pre-season, but previously the manager's side appeared so effective at managing games and that is not the case.

It felt like their organization was solid, and his more possession-based approach provided greater command.

This was an aspect that observers instantly saw he had introduced to the squad, compared to what it was like under previous management.

Now, though, I watch them and it looks somewhat chaotic. The last half-hour of the Chelsea match was hectic it felt like a cup tie – they had chances to secure victory, but gave away many chances too, which is why they ended up losing.

{How Can Slot Address The Team's Problems?

We can identify a few things that are not right about the club, and I keep seeing them giving the ball away, but this is not an unresolvable situation.

Just because Liverpool have several new additions – and varied profiles too – they should not need to change their approach. They simply require to return to being a bit more composed and calm.

The positive aspect is they are only one point behind leaders the front-runners and have time to correct the things that are going wrong.

Fitness element they are lacking will improve because the individuals who did not have a proper pre-season, like midfielders and defenders, will attain optimal condition soon.

Building effective relationships on the field requires patience too, be it between the right-back and the forward or additional important combinations.

Therefore, there is no need to panic. It seems like at the moment in the Premier League, and not just with this team but with every side, you are a single match away from 'crisis' and criticism.

The truth is the recent results to them this week will likely happen at some stage to Arsenal and Manchester City as well.

I had not actually believed City would be in the championship chase, but if a key attacker remains motivated and fit they will be in contention.

The London club, defensively, look excellent again and, overall, after several matches they seem very assured in their performances in all areas – it looks like a continuation of their previous form, with an extra dose of quality and depth.

For them it feels like more of a transition right now. But while there is ongoing work to do for them to find the optimal balance and partnerships, I think everyone expects them to progress as the season unfolds.