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It's been a while, but the Egyptian star returned assuming the main part last week with a double in Morocco that secured Egypt's spot at the 2026 World Cup. The main man taking center stage yet again. Liverpool must have him to remain there.

Factors for Inconsistent Showings

There exist numerous causes why inconsistent, unimpressive displays have been the recurring theme running through Liverpool's opening to their championship defense, whether they produced a winning streak or, before the Red Devils' arrival to Liverpool's home ground on the weekend, a losing run. The upheaval from multiple new signings, the coach's quest for his top team, the late forward's loss; the winger has felt the consequences of them all during his unusually low-key beginning to the campaign.

The Weekend's Key Fixture

Sunday's big match could provide the catalyst for the origin of a record 16 goals in 17 appearances for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their centenary trip to Anfield and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for over nine years. The attacker will present the manager with a further unexpected problem, though, should he remain caught in the upheaval much longer.

Recent Display

The team's manager must have seen the irony of Salah's opening strike against the opponent recently. Drilled immediately with the outside of his stronger foot into the near post, Salah's eighth score of Egypt's qualification run was from an very similar location to his costly miss versus Chelsea before the break for internationals.

If that shot with his right been converted moments after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would even now be eulogising the new signing's maiden superb setup in the English top flight. Inquests into Salah's decline and Liverpool's rare losing streak might as well have been avoided. Rather, the midfielder's search persists while the coach fumes over a third consecutive loss on the road, a couple inflicted by dying-minute strikes and another the result of a debatable penalty. Fine lines, as he repeated on Friday, but they cannot hide underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Impact

Salah was key in driving the side towards a tying 20th championship the previous term while speculation over his future persisted in the background. “We brought nearly the best out of Mo last term,” said Slot when his main attacker signed a fresh deal in April. There has been a noticeable decline on an personal and team level from then. The lineup, not the details of a deal, are responsible.

Statistical Decline

His contribution in terms of goals and assists is reduced 50% on the corresponding stage last season, from a total eight in the initial seven fixtures of last season to four (a pair of goals and two assists) this term. His number of attempts has decreased from 22 to twelve while efforts on goal have fallen from fifteen to 5, causing a sharp fall in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, figures show.

A single trait that has stayed stable is his creativity. With 12 opportunities made, against fourteen at the equivalent point of last term, his numbers remain among the finest in the continent and comparable in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his younger counterparts by fifteen and 13 years each.

Team Performance

Metrics of team display will worry the coach further. Salah had seventy-six contacts in the enemy box in the first seven league games of the prior campaign. This season's total is 39. The numbers are reflective of the squad's difficulties as a whole. Only United and the Gunners have tried more attempts on goal than Liverpool now, but Liverpool's proportion of shots from inside the six-yard area is the smallest in the division, their percentage from long range among the top. Liverpool's rate of shots on target – 28.4 percent – is as well among the poorest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we primarily found the net from a moment of magic from a forward and in the later stage it was mostly from a set piece,” Slot said. “This season we haven’t had as many sparks of quality and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are still the team that from live action produces the highest expected goals opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They aren't beating foes in the manner Slot planned when Wirtz, the French forward and Alexander Isak were acquired recently, though the team stay the league's joint third-highest goalscorers. A draw on the weekend would be enough for Slot to attain the 100-point total in fewer games than any coach in Liverpool's past (forty-six). Think what his attack will do when it finally gels. Liverpool remain a squad of supreme individual quality, equipped to sparking and catching any foe for the title, but cohesion is lacking. That can not be blamed on the recent arrivals alone.

Personal and Collective Issues

Salah is not the only key member to suffer a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to form and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he finds himself at the core of the disruption that has of late enveloped the club. This extends to a personal level, with his sadness over the passing of Diogo Jota evident on that heartfelt season opener against Bournemouth. The effect of Jota's loss can not be assessed nor overlooked.

Tactical Changes

Last season, he