Chelsea defender admits Salah targeted in victory | OneFootball

Chelsea Expose Liverpool’s Right Flank as Salah Struggles Under Spotlight

Liverpool’s 2–1 defeat at Stamford Bridge extended a concerning run for Arne Slot’s side, as Chelsea’s tactical discipline and late resilience exposed familiar frailties on the Reds’ right-hand side. Among the key revelations came from Marc Cucurella, who admitted that Chelsea deliberately targeted Mohamed Salah’s flank — a strategy that ultimately paid dividends.

Cucurella Reveals Chelsea’s Tactical Approach

In a revealing post-match interview, Marc Cucurella explained how Chelsea’s preparation involved exploiting the space Salah often leaves behind when pressing high. The Spaniard, who assisted Estevao’s late winner, confirmed that the game plan centred on isolating Liverpool’s right-hand side.

“We know that Salah is always ready for the counter-attack, so we practised that,” Cucurella told Sky Sports. “The manager said the space might be there on their right side. Even in the last minute, we kept attacking, and it worked. Enzo [Fernandez] gave me the ball, I crossed, and Estevao finished it.”

That sequence epitomised Chelsea’s control in key phases of the game. While Liverpool fought back through Cody Gakpo’s equaliser, they once again fell to a stoppage-time strike — echoing last weekend’s late heartbreak at Crystal Palace.

Salah’s Difficult Evening Raises Further Questions

For Salah, it was a night that summed up Liverpool’s inconsistency in recent weeks. The Egyptian, who has registered three goals and three assists from ten appearances this season, struggled to influence proceedings as he found himself increasingly isolated.

Despite growing criticism, Slot was quick to defend his star forward after the match. “Mo’s output speaks for itself,” he said. “He’s adjusting to some new roles, but he’s still our main attacking outlet. It’s about finding the right balance.”

Yet that balance remains elusive. Salah’s defensive positioning, long seen as a trade-off for his attacking prowess, has become an area rival managers now actively exploit. Chelsea’s focus on that flank wasn’t accidental — it was a clear recognition of where Liverpool can be hurt.

Right-Back Rotation Highlights Slot’s Ongoing Dilemma

Wayne Rooney, speaking on Match of the Day, also pointed to Liverpool’s ongoing issues at right-back. Conor Bradley, who was replaced at half-time, endured another difficult outing. “It’s a clear problem Liverpool have got in that area,” Rooney said. “Bradley’s come off twice at half-time in their last two league games. They’ve tried Szoboszlai there, it hasn’t worked, and Frimpong didn’t even come on today. Chelsea saw that and exploited it.”

Slot later confirmed that Bradley’s substitution was tactical but also influenced by caution. “Conor was on a yellow card, and when a second foul happens, it becomes a risk,” the Dutchman explained. “We needed Florian [Wirtz] to bring some control, so moving Dom [Szoboszlai] to full-back made sense.”

It was a pragmatic call, but one that underscored a deeper issue. Liverpool have rotated three different players in that position over seven league games, with none yet providing a consistent solution.

Slot Faces Key Decisions Ahead of International Break

For Slot, the task now is to address both the structural imbalance and the psychological toll of three successive defeats. Liverpool’s defensive coordination — particularly between Salah and whoever operates at right-back — has become a pressing concern.

Cucurella’s comments will not have gone unnoticed at Kirkby. Rival managers are now targeting the same weakness, and unless Liverpool can stabilise that side, more frustration could follow.

Slot’s debut season remains in its early stages, but the growing scrutiny around Salah’s adaptation and Liverpool’s tactical coherence shows how fine the margins have become at the top level. Fixing the right side of the pitch may well define whether this transitional phase leads to progress or further regression.