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It has been some time, but Liverpool's forward returned assuming the starring role in recent days with a brace in Casablanca that secured the Egyptian team's place at the upcoming World Cup. The main man taking center stage another time. The Reds need him to stay there.

Causes for Variable Performances

We see several reasons why inconsistent, unconvincing displays have been the recurring theme running through Liverpool's opening to their title defence, if they achieved seven straight victories or, before the Red Devils' visit to Anfield on the weekend, a losing run. The turmoil from so many offseason moves, Arne Slot's search for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's tragic death; the winger has endured the effect of them all during his unusually low-key start to the term.

The Weekend's Big Match

Sunday's showpiece occasion could deliver the catalyst for the origin of a record 16 goals in 17 outings for the club against United, who are making their 100th visit to Anfield and have not succeeded at their archrivals for almost a decade. Salah will pose Slot with an additional surprise issue, however, if he stay caught in the turmoil much longer.

Latest Form

Liverpool's manager must have recognized the contrast of Salah's initial score against Djibouti in midweek. Swept first time with the outside of his left foot into the close post, Salah's eighth score of Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign came from an nearly the same position to his costly miss against Chelsea before the national team pause.

If that right-foot effort been converted shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would even now be praising Florian Wirtz's first excellent assist in the English top flight. Discussions into his dip and Liverpool's rare defeat streak might as well have been avoided. Instead, the midfielder's search goes on while Slot broods over a third defeat away, a couple inflicted by last-minute winners and one the result of a debatable penalty. Narrow differences, as he repeated on Friday, but they do not camouflage bigger issues.

Last Season's Contribution

Salah was instrumental in driving Liverpool towards a tying 20th league title the previous term while speculation over his career lingered in the background. We achieved nearly the maximum out of Mo that campaign,” said Slot when his leading striker signed a fresh deal in April. We have seen a noticeable drop-off on an individual and team level since. The squad, not the details of a contract, are accountable.

Performance Drop

His contribution in terms of goals and setups is down 50% on the corresponding stage the previous term, from a total 8 in the opening seven matches of 2024-25 to four (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this season. His tally of shots has dropped from twenty-two to twelve while shots on target have declined from fifteen to five, contributing to a steep decline in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, figures show.

One attribute that has stayed stable is Salah's creativity. With twelve opportunities made, compared with fourteen at the same stage of last term, his figures remain among the top in the continent and up in the company of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Team Output

Metrics of team display will concern Slot more. He had seventy-six touches in the opposition penalty area in the initial seven matches of the prior campaign. This term's count is 39. The numbers are indicative of the squad's difficulties in general. Just United and Arsenal have attempted a greater number of attempts on goal than them in the current term, but Liverpool's proportion of attempts from within the goal area is the smallest in the top flight, their share from outside the area among the top. The club's percentage of shots on target – 28.4% – is as well among the weakest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we mainly scored from a moment of magic from a forward and in the second half it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Now we haven’t had as numerous moments of genius and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from open play produces the most expected goals opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not beating opponents in the fashion the coach imagined when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board this summer, while the team stay the league's third-best scorers. A tie on the weekend would be enough for Slot to achieve the century of points in fewer games than any manager in the club's past (forty-six). Think what his attack will do when it clicks. The side remain a squad of outstanding skill, equipped to igniting and chasing any foe for the championship, but synergy is lacking. That can not be blamed on the recent arrivals by themselves.

Personal and Team Issues

Salah is not the sole established member to experience a drop-off, with the midfielder regaining to form and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he finds himself at the core of the turmoil that has recently affected Liverpool. That extends to a personal level, with his sadness over the death of Diogo Jota obvious on that emotional opening night against Bournemouth. The influence of Jota's tragedy can neither be assessed nor ignored.

Strategic Changes

Previously, he