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It's been a while, but the Egyptian star was back playing the lead part in recent days with a brace in Casablanca that secured Egypt's spot at the upcoming World Cup. The star taking the spotlight once more. Liverpool must have him to stay there.

Factors for Unsteady Performances

We see several factors why variable, unconvincing displays have been the common thread characterizing Liverpool's start to their title defence, whether they recorded a winning streak or, prior to the Red Devils' trip to Liverpool's home ground on the weekend, three losses in a row. The turmoil from so many offseason moves, the coach's hunt for his top team, the late forward's passing; Salah has felt the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically subdued opening to the term.

Sunday's Key Fixture

Sunday's key fixture could provide the impetus for the cause of a record 16 scores in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are paying their centenary trip to the stadium and have not triumphed at their archrivals for over nine years. The attacker will pose Slot with another unforeseen dilemma, yet, should he remain caught in the disruption indefinitely.

Recent Performance

The team's boss likely recognized the contrast of the player's initial score against Djibouti last Wednesday. Struck first time with the outside of his left foot inside the near post, his eighth score of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign originated from an almost identical position to his big mistake against Chelsea before the national team pause.

If that shot with his right been finished moments after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be celebrating the new signing's maiden superb setup in the English top flight. Analyses into Salah's decline and the team's rare defeat streak might as well have been postponed. Rather, Wirtz's search persists while Slot fumes over a third away defeat, two inflicted by dying-minute strikes and another the result of a controversial spot-kick. Small margins, as Slot reiterated on Friday, but they do not camouflage underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

Salah was crucial in pushing Liverpool towards a historic 20th league title last season while uncertainty over his long-term plans persisted in the backdrop. “We brought nearly the best out of Salah this season,” said Slot when his leading striker signed an extension in the spring. We have seen a clear decline on an personal and collective level since. The squad, not the terms of a contract, are accountable.

Statistical Drop

The 33-year-old's production in terms of scores and setups is lower half on the corresponding point the previous term, from a combined eight in the opening seven matches of 2024-25 to four (two goals and two assists) this term. His number of attempts has decreased from 22 to twelve while shots on target have dropped from fifteen to five, causing a steep decline in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, figures show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is Salah's chance creation. With 12 opportunities made, against 14 at the equivalent point of last term, his numbers remain among the finest in Europe and up in the company of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Team Output

Measures of team performance will trouble Slot additionally. Salah had seventy-six touches in the enemy box in the first seven matches of the prior campaign. This season's count is thirty-nine. The stats are reflective of the squad's issues as a whole. Only Manchester United and the Gunners have attempted more attempts on goal than them in the current term, but the team's proportion of attempts from within the six-yard area is the smallest in the top flight, their percentage from distance among the greatest. Liverpool's proportion of efforts on goal – 28.4 percent – is as well among the poorest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we primarily scored from a moment of magic from an attacker and in the later stage it was more from a set piece,” the manager said. “Now we lack as many moments of genius and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are still the side that from live action generates the most xG chances.”

Summer Arrivals

They aren't beating foes in the fashion the coach imagined when Florian Wirtz, the French forward and Alexander Isak were brought on board recently, though Liverpool are the league's equal third-top scorers. A draw on the weekend would be enough for Slot to achieve the century of points in less games than any manager in the club's history (46). Consider what his offense will do when it clicks. Liverpool are still a squad of exceptional skill, able to sparking and reeling in any opponent for the championship, but cohesion is lacking. That cannot be pinned on the recent arrivals alone.

Personal and Collective Problems

Salah is not the sole key player to experience a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to match sharpness and Ibrahima Konaté toiling. But he finds himself at the center of the disruption that has of late affected the club. That goes to a individual level, with his grief over the passing of Jota obvious on that emotional first game against Bournemouth. The influence of his tragedy can not be quantified nor ignored.

Tactical Adjustments

Last season, he