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It seems that Mohamed Salah's limited defensive work has turned into a minor problem for Liverpool, especially against top-tier opponents.

I can fully grasp if manager Arne Slot has directed Salah to avoid defensive duties, since positioning himself advanced on the right flank when regaining possession has made him one of the world's deadliest strikers.

But, the players in support fail to offer adequate cover, creating significant issues for anyone has been at right-back this season.

Be it Jeremie Frimpong or Dominik Szoboszlai, they often find themselves in trouble due to dealing with a numerical disadvantage on their side.

This was a clear weakness in the recent match, resulting in Chelsea's decisive goal – and the concern is that more teams will intelligently target this weak spot.

{'Salah Has License to Avoid Defensive Duties'

First of all, I doubt that the manager is telling Salah to help defensively and support his defender.

Should he had been instructed to follow the opposition's left-back Marc Cucurella, then it was extremely evident he wasn't doing it, and the coach would not tolerate that.

Instead, Slot is granting Salah the liberty to focus exclusively on offensive play, which is fine – we've seen numerous examples of other teams adopting comparable approaches, with individuals who choose to conserve their stamina for attacking actions.

Yes, there are still specific situations in a match when you are under pressure and one might feel compelled to help out.

I know he can do it, because during Liverpool won at Manchester City previously, his defensive performance was among the best observed from him.

However, he must have been instructed to perform that role on that day, which is why I am not criticizing him if he is asked to remain advanced.

'The Real Issue Is How Liverpool Are Structured In Support of Salah'

The concern with Salah stems from how Liverpool set up in defensive support, particularly against stronger opponents.

The other teammates must offer better and faster help, as it seemed like the opposition were advancing the ball forward and subsequently switching it to their left, because that's where the gap existed.

When a their central player moved wide too late – be it Ryan Gravenberch – then he created space in central areas ahead of the back line because they were losing a player from the midfield.

All this is less critical when playing teams that you dominate possession against – evidenced by their past league wins using such tactics – but they must improve because the top sides will take advantage.

'Liverpool Have Lost Command of Matches'

It is not as if Salah has changed his duties recently, but because he is not scoring in attack, maybe the defensive side of his performance is amplified.

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

He found some excellent situations versus Chelsea but perhaps took a chance when he could have assisted, and vice versa, but those opportunities will keep coming and the scores will come.

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

This has been a disappointing period for them, of course, not only to suffer three games in a row in the domestic league and Champions League but because the performance levels have fallen below expectations.

There are extenuating circumstances, certainly, with all the personnel changes in the off-season and the several of players who missed preparatory training, but previously Slot's Liverpool appeared so effective at managing games and that is no longer the case.

It felt like their organization was sound, and Slot's more possession-based style brought better control.

This was an aspect that people immediately saw he had introduced to the squad, in contrast to what it was like under previous management.

Now, though, observing them and it looks somewhat chaotic. The last half-hour of the Chelsea match was hectic it felt like a knockout game – they had opportunities to win it, but gave away several opportunities too, which is why they ultimately losing.

{How Can The Manager Address The Team's Problems?

We can identify a few aspects that are off about Liverpool, and I keep seeing them giving the ball away, but I don't see an unresolvable scenario.

Even though Liverpool have several new additions – and different types too – they don't need to alter their playing style. They simply require to get back to being slightly more patient and composed.

The positive aspect is they are only one point adrift of leaders the front-runners and have time to fix the issues that are going wrong.

The physical element they are missing will improve because the players who missed a proper training camp, such as key attackers and full-backs, will attain optimal condition soon.

Developing effective understanding on the pitch requires time too, whether it be between the right-back and Salah or other key pairings.

So, there is no reason to overreact. It feels like at the moment in the Premier League, and not just with this team but with all teams, you are only one week away from 'crisis' and scrutiny.

The truth is what has happened to Liverpool this week will likely occur at some point to other contenders and rivals as well.

I didn't previously thought City would be in the championship chase, but if a key attacker stays motivated and fit they will be in contention.

The London club, defensively, look excellent again and, overall, after several matches they seem very comfortable in their performances across the pitch – it seems a extension of their previous form, with an added layer of talent and depth.

For them it feels like more of a transition right now. But although there is ongoing work to do for them to find the right equilibrium and partnerships, I think everyone is anticipating them to improve as the season advances.