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It's been some time, but Liverpool's forward was back taking on the starring role in recent days with a brace in Casablanca that confirmed Egypt's position at the global tournament. The main man stepping on the spotlight another time. The Merseyside club require him to keep that position.

Reasons for Inconsistent Displays

There exist many factors why variable, unimpressive showings have been the recurring theme characterizing Liverpool's beginning to their championship defense, whether they recorded a winning streak or, prior to the Red Devils' trip to Anfield on Sunday, three losses in a row. The turmoil from numerous offseason moves, Arne Slot's quest for his top team, the late forward's passing; Salah has experienced the impact of them all during his unusually quiet opening to the campaign.

Sunday's Key Fixture

Sunday's key fixture could deliver the catalyst for the source of a impressive 16 scores in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are paying their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not succeeded at their archrivals for over nine years. The attacker will pose the manager with a further surprise issue, however, should he stay lost in the disruption much longer.

Latest Performance

Liverpool's manager likely recognized the irony of Salah's first goal against Djibouti last Wednesday. Swept immediately with the exterior of his left foot into the close post, his eighth strike of the national team's qualification run came from an almost identical spot to his expensive error against Chelsea prior to the national team pause.

Had that right-foot effort been scored moments after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be celebrating Florian Wirtz's maiden superb pass in the English top flight. Discussions into his drop and the team's infrequent losing run might as well have been delayed. Rather, Wirtz's wait persists while the coach stews over a third consecutive away defeat, two caused by dying-minute strikes and another the result of a disputed penalty. Narrow differences, as Slot emphasized on recently, but they do not mask larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Impact

Salah was key in pushing Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th league title the previous term while doubt over his career persisted in the background. We extracted almost the utmost out of Mo that campaign,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a fresh deal in April. We have seen a obvious drop-off on an individual and team level since. The lineup, not the details of a deal, are accountable.

Statistical Decrease

His production in terms of scores and setups is lower 50% on the corresponding stage last season, from a combined 8 in the opening seven matches of 2024-25 to 4 (two goals and two assists) this season. His number of shots has fallen from twenty-two to twelve while shots on target have fallen from 15 to five, leading to a steep drop in shooting accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, data show.

A single trait that has held more steady is Salah's chance creation. With 12 key passes, versus 14 at the comparable period of last campaign, his numbers remain among the top in the continent and comparable in the group of young talents and rising stars, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Team Performance

Indicators of team output will trouble Slot more. He had seventy-six contacts in the opposition penalty area in the first seven matches of last season. This term's tally is thirty-nine. These figures are symptomatic of the team's issues in general. Just United and Arsenal have attempted a greater number of attempts on goal than them this season, but the team's proportion of shots from within the goal area is the poorest in the division, their ratio from long range among the highest. The club's proportion of shots on target – 28.4 percent – is also among the lowest in the competition.

During the initial phase of last season we mostly scored from a special moment from an attacker and in the later stage it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” the manager said. “This season we haven’t had as many acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are still the side that from live action creates the highest expected goals opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They aren't hurting foes in the way Slot planned when Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were brought on board this summer, while Liverpool stay the league's third-best scorers. A draw on the weekend would be sufficient for him to attain the 100-point mark in less games than any manager in the club's past (46). Imagine what his forward line will do when it finally gels. The side are still a team of outstanding talent, capable of starting and chasing any foe for the championship, but synergy is lacking. This can not be pinned on the new signings by themselves.

Personal and Collective Problems

Salah is not the only established player to experience a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to fitness and the defender struggling. But he finds himself at the center of the upheaval that has lately affected Liverpool. That goes to a individual level, with his sorrow over the loss of Diogo Jota obvious on that heartfelt opening night against the Cherries. The effect of his loss can not be measured nor ignored.

Tactical Adjustments

Last season, he