Liverpool manager Arne Slot was keen to justify Mohamed Salah’s lack of defensive cover even if he did concede that the entire team must “do better” stopping crosses into the box.
Salah came under fire for his limited output off the ball in the aftermath of Liverpool’s late 2–1 defeat to Chelsea on the eve of October’s international break. Blues left back Marc Cucurella explained how Enzo Maresca’s side had deliberately targeted Liverpool’s right flank, pushing forward in the knowledge that they would overload the unwitting Red defender as Salah rarely tracks back.
It was Cucurella who burst into the box to provide the low cross for Estêvão’s stoppage-time winner.
Salah’s willingness to let Cucurella run off him was only exacerbated by the forward’s profligacy at Stamford Bridge, as he spurned several clear chances to fire the visitors in front after drawing level in the second half. Slot, however, argued that Salah was only in a position to get those opportunities precisely because he doesn’t busy himself with defending.
“I saw Cucurella’s comments on Salah but I show you five or six moments where Mo could have made the difference, so that would be a different conversation,” the Liverpool boss snapped at Friday’s press conference. “Always the balance between winger and fullback that is quite… I want ours to attack as well. We have to find the right balance.”
However, Slot did admit: “We concede too many crosses, I am aware of that and we have to do better.” Liverpool’s opponents are averaging 2.3 open-play crosses into their penalty area each game, almost double the rate they suffered last season (1.3).
This increased frequency of balls into the box has coincided with an unwanted habit of conceding goals at the back post. Only three Premier League teams have shipped more goals from this specific scenario than Liverpool this season, per .
