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It's been a while, but the Egyptian star was back assuming the main part last week with two goals in Morocco that secured Egypt's spot at the global tournament. The key player claiming the limelight another time. Liverpool require him to keep that position.

Reasons for Inconsistent Performances

There are numerous factors why variable, lackluster showings have been the frequent pattern running through the team's beginning to their league defense, if they produced a winning streak or, prior to Manchester United's arrival to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The turmoil from numerous summer changes, Arne Slot's quest for his top team, Diogo Jota's passing; Salah has experienced the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically subdued start to the campaign.

The Weekend's Big Match

Sunday's key fixture could deliver the spark for the cause of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 appearances for the club against United, who are making their 100th visit to the stadium and have not triumphed at their biggest foes for more than nine years. Salah will present Slot with a further unexpected problem, however, if he remain lost in the disruption much longer.

Recent Form

Liverpool's boss likely noticed the paradox of Salah's first goal against Djibouti last Wednesday. Swept first time with the exterior of his stronger foot into the near post, his eighth strike of the national team's qualifying effort originated from an nearly the same location to his expensive error versus Chelsea prior to the national team pause.

Had that right-foot effort been scored shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be eulogising the new signing's first excellent pass in the league. Inquests into his decline and the team's unusual losing streak might as well have been delayed. Rather, Wirtz's wait persists while Slot stews over a third consecutive away defeat, two inflicted by dying-minute strikes and one the outcome of a debatable penalty. Small margins, as he reiterated on recently, but they cannot hide bigger issues.

Last Season's Contribution

The forward was crucial in pushing Liverpool towards a tying 20th championship the previous term while uncertainty over his future lingered in the backdrop. “We brought almost the best out of Mo this season,” said the manager when his leading striker signed an extension in the spring. There has been a noticeable decline on an individual and collective level since. The squad, not the details of a contract, are accountable.

Statistical Decrease

His contribution in terms of goals and assists is down 50% on the corresponding stage the previous term, from a combined eight in the initial seven fixtures of 2024-25 to four (two goals and two assists) the current campaign. His tally of shots has dropped from 22 to 12 while accurate shots have declined from 15 to 5, leading to a steep drop in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, figures show.

One attribute that has stayed stable is Salah's chance creation. With 12 chances created, against fourteen at the comparable period of last term, his numbers stay among the best in Europe and comparable in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Collective Display

Metrics of collective display will trouble Slot further. Salah had 76 touches in the opposition penalty area in the initial seven fixtures of the previous term. This term's total is 39. The stats are reflective of the team's problems as a whole. Only United and the Gunners have attempted more attempts on goal than them this season, but Liverpool's rate of attempts from within the six-yard box is the lowest in the Premier League, their percentage from outside the area among the highest. Liverpool's percentage of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is also among the weakest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we mostly found the net from an individual brilliance from an attacker and in the second half it was mostly from a dead ball,” Slot said. “Now we lack as many sparks of quality and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the team that from live action produces the most xG chances.”

Summer Arrivals

They aren't hurting opponents in the way the coach envisaged when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were signed recently, while the team are the league's third-best scorers. A tie on Sunday would be sufficient for him to achieve the 100-point total in less games than any manager in the club's past (forty-six). Think what his offense will do when it finally gels. The side remain a team of supreme skill, equipped to igniting and reeling in any rival for the championship, but unity is missing. This cannot be pinned on the new signings only.

Individual and Team Challenges

The player is not the sole key player to experience a dip, with the midfielder returning to form and Ibrahima Konaté struggling. But he is at the core of the disruption that has of late enveloped Liverpool. This extends to a individual level, with his sadness over the loss of Jota clear on that poignant opening night against the Cherries. The effect of Jota's tragedy can not be assessed nor ignored.

Tactical Adjustments

Previously, he