Glen Johnson believes the exploits of striker Mohamed Salah is helping Liverpool to win matches this season despite the club having a shaky defence.

The Reds are the only unbeaten side so far in the top-flight and they are sitting third on the 20-team league table with 22 points from 10 matches.

During their last assignment, Liverpool failed to hold on to a 2-0 half-time lead to draw 2-2 against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield, and according to the former right-back, the Jurgen Klopp-led side have failed to hit their own high standards defensively.

Johnson also feels the performance of the 29-year-old Egyptian international, who has scored 15 goals in just 14 games, has helped to keep Liverpool afloat.

“Anytime you've got players like [Salah] on the pitch, then you're always gonna be a threat. He's always going to peg teams back if you've got the ball, so it doesn't matter if your defence isn't on form anyway,” Johnson said as quoted by The Mirror.

Asked to comment on Liverpool’s defence, Johnson said: “I don't think they're as rock-solid as they have been.

“They've got very high standards and they set the bar high of course. By their standards, I don't think a few of their players are at their best - but I don't think they have to be at their best to win football matches.

If they want to take this title race to the line and go deep in the Champions League then they will have to hit form at the right time. So I don't think they've been as solid as they usually are, but they're still performing well enough to win games.”

In a recent interview, former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has maintained Salah is currently the best player in the world.

One hundred per cent. I think not only this year, the last two or three seasons have been amazing,” the former Spain international, who scored 81 goals in 141 appearances for the Reds, and shared a dressing room with Salah at Chelsea, said when asked if he is the world’s finest at present.

“You’re always talking about individual trophies for players when they win trophies at the same time, but I think he has been one of the best two or three players in the world in the past five or six years. It’s amazing, the consistency.

“You can see he breaks all the records and keeps scoring goals. We chat sometimes and I’m really happy for him because I saw him when he came to England – it was difficult at the beginning but he is a great guy and a great player and he is showing the world.”