We’ve been over this ground before, before those injuries you kept like 3 clean sheets in 10 games since the FA cup defeat against City, and conceded 2 goals or more in 4 occasions, it wasn’t some type of watertight defense. Of course, there’s the valid argument that Saliba allowed for Zinchenko and White to be more attacking, but that doesn’t explain conceding 7 goals in 3 match from winning position or at home against relegation fodder. The team just wilted under pressure, that’s ok, that’s normal for a young team, even more so for their first title challenge, but you can’t just say missing a couple of players doomed your title chance when the team was still capable of winning comfortably away to Newcastle, or blowing Wolves away when pressure is off.
As for experience, Havertz and Rice have less experience being involved in a title race than the majority of your team. Depending on them to lift the mentality and resilience of the team is suspect at best.