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It's been some time, but Liverpool's forward was back playing the lead part recently with a double in Casablanca that secured Egypt's place at the 2026 World Cup. The main man stepping on center stage yet again. The Reds must have him to keep that position.

Factors for Inconsistent Showings

We see several reasons why inconsistent, lackluster performances have been the recurring theme characterizing Liverpool's opening to their championship defense, whether they achieved seven straight victories or, before the Red Devils' trip to Anfield on the weekend, three losses in a row. The disruption from multiple new signings, the coach's search for his top team, Diogo Jota's tragic death; Salah has experienced the consequences of them all during his unusually subdued opening to the term.

The Weekend's Big Match

The weekend's showpiece occasion could deliver the catalyst for the cause of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 appearances for Liverpool against United, who are paying their 100th appearance to the stadium and have not succeeded at their fierce rivals for over nine years. Salah will pose Slot with an additional surprise issue, however, should he continue lost in the turmoil much longer.

Latest Performance

The team's boss must have seen the contrast of Salah's opening strike against the opponent recently. Swept first time with the outside of his left foot into the front post, his eighth goal of Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign originated from an nearly the same spot to his big mistake versus Chelsea before the break for internationals.

If that shot with his right been converted moments after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would even now be celebrating the new signing's first superb assist in the English top flight. Discussions into his decline and the team's unusual losing run might also have been delayed. Instead, the midfielder's search continues while Slot broods over a third away defeat, two caused by last-minute winners and another the result of a debatable penalty. Fine lines, as Slot reiterated on Friday, but they cannot hide underlying concerns.

Last Season's Influence

Salah was crucial in pushing the side towards a tying 20th crown last season while uncertainty over his future lingered in the backdrop. We extracted almost the best out of Mo last term,” said the manager when his leading striker signed an extension in April. There has been a clear decline on an personal and collective level since. The team, not the terms of a deal, are responsible.

Performance Drop

The 33-year-old's contribution in terms of scores and setups is reduced half on the same stage last season, from a combined 8 in the opening seven matches of 2024-25 to four (two goals and two assists) the current campaign. His tally of shots has dropped from 22 to 12 while shots on target have declined from fifteen to five, contributing to a sharp decline in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

A particular skill that has remained consistent is his playmaking. With 12 chances created, versus fourteen at the equivalent point of last campaign, his figures remain among the best in the continent and comparable in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Display

Metrics of team performance will trouble the coach further. Salah had 76 contacts in the enemy box in the opening seven matches of the prior campaign. This season's count is thirty-nine. These figures are indicative of the squad's issues overall. Only Manchester United and the Gunners have taken a greater number of attempts on goal than Liverpool now, but the team's rate of attempts from within the goal area is the smallest in the division, their percentage from outside the area among the greatest. Liverpool's percentage of shots on target – 28.4 percent – is also among the weakest in the competition.

During the initial phase of last season we primarily scored from a moment of magic from one of our front three and in the later stage it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Now we have not seen as many moments of genius and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are still the side that from live action creates the most xG chances.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not punishing opponents in the fashion the coach envisaged when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were signed recently, although the team stay the league's joint third-highest scorers. A draw on Sunday would be enough for him to reach the 100-point total in fewer games than any boss in the club's history (46). Imagine what his offense will do when it finally gels. Liverpool are still a squad of supreme skill, able to sparking and catching any rival for the championship, but synergy is absent. That cannot be blamed on the new signings only.

Individual and Collective Challenges

Salah is not the sole key member to experience a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to match sharpness and Ibrahima Konaté struggling. But he finds himself at the center of the turmoil that has of late enveloped Liverpool. That extends to a personal level, with his grief over the death of Diogo Jota obvious on that heartfelt opening night against the Cherries. The impact of his death can not be measured nor overlooked.

Tactical Changes

In the prior campaign, he