Why Mohamed Salah has become a ‘little problem’ for Liverpool – Danny Murphy analysis
There are a few things that are not right about Liverpool, and I keep seeing them give the ball away, but I don’t see this as an unresolvable situation.
Just because Liverpool have got some new players – and different types of players too – they don’t need to change the way they play. They just need to get back to being a little bit more patient, and a little more composed.
The good news is they are only one point behind leaders Arsenal and have time to fix the things that are going wrong.
The physical aspect they are missing will come because the players who did not have a proper pre-season, like Alexander Isak, Mac Allister, Bradley and Hugo Ekitike, will reach peak fitness soon.
Building proper relationships on the pitch always takes time too, whether it be between the right-back and Salah or Florian Wirtz and Isak.
So, there is no need to panic. It feels like at the moment in the Premier League, and not just with Liverpool but with all teams, you are only one week away from ‘catastrophe’ and criticism.
The reality is what has happened to Liverpool this week will probably happen at some point to Arsenal and Manchester City this season too.
I didn’t actually think City would be in the title race, but if Erling Haaland stays this hungry and remains fit they will be.
Arsenal, defensively, look superb again and, overall, after seven games they appear very comfortable in what they are doing everywhere on the pitch – it looks like a continuation of last season, with a sprinkling of extra quality and depth.
With Liverpool it feels like more of rebuild right now. But while there is still work to do for them to find the right balance and combinations, I think everyone is expecting them to improve as the season goes on.
Danny Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.
