Pundit reveals the one important thing William Saliba is missing this season

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Jamie Carragher has criticised the recent performances of William Saliba, suggesting the Arsenal centre-back is struggling to maintain his usual standards without regular defensive partner Gabriel Magalhães.

Saliba, who has emerged as one of Europe’s most highly regarded defenders in recent seasons, was at fault for Liverpool’s opening goal in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Anfield. Cody Gakpo found the net after turning in an Andy Robertson cross, with Carragher describing Saliba’s positioning and reaction as “really poor.”

The French international has endured a dip in form in recent weeks, raising questions about his ability to lead the backline in the absence of Gabriel, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since early April and will miss the rest of the season. Jakub Kiwior has been deputising alongside Saliba, but the partnership has lacked the same solidity that Arsenal fans have come to expect.

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Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: “When you’re a centre-back, I’d be hoping the guy next to me is the leader. When he moves away, you’ve got to then become the leader of that back four and organise people—not just play your own game.”

The former Liverpool defender acknowledged Saliba’s technical qualities but argued that leadership and the ability to influence others are what separate the great defenders from the rest.

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“The great centre-backs—it’s not just about how good you are in the air, your pace, or how you are on the ball. You need to affect other people. Think of Tony Adams, think of Virgil van Dijk. They made everyone else around them look like great players. That’s what’s still lacking with Saliba.”

Carragher added that without Gabriel, Saliba doesn’t look like the same player and that’s a worrying sign for someone considered to be one of the league’s top defenders.

“I’d be embarrassed if people said I wasn’t the same player without someone next to me. We’ve said similar things about Liverpool centre-backs when Van Dijk isn’t there—but the difference is, Van Dijk is rarely out, and he elevates the players around him.”

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