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It's been a while, but the Egyptian star returned taking on the lead part in recent days with two goals in Casablanca that secured the Egyptian team's place at the 2026 World Cup. The main man taking the limelight yet again. The Reds must have him to remain there.

Reasons for Variable Showings

There exist many reasons why inconsistent, unimpressive displays have been the frequent pattern defining Liverpool's start to their championship defense, whether they recorded seven straight victories or, prior to Manchester United's trip to Anfield on Sunday, a losing run. The upheaval from so many offseason moves, the coach's quest for his best XI, Diogo Jota's passing; the winger has endured the impact of them all during his unusually quiet opening to the term.

The Weekend's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's big match could provide the spark for the cause of a record 16 strikes in 17 outings for the club against United, who are paying their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not won at their biggest foes for over nine years. The attacker will pose Slot with an additional unforeseen dilemma, however, if he continue lost in the disruption indefinitely.

Recent Display

Liverpool's boss must have noticed the paradox of Salah's first goal against Djibouti recently. Struck first time with the outside of his stronger foot into the near post, Salah's eighth goal of the national team's qualification run was from an very similar spot to his expensive error against Chelsea before the international break.

Had that right-foot effort been scored moments after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would even now be celebrating Florian Wirtz's maiden excellent assist in the league. Inquests into his drop and Liverpool's unusual losing streak might as well have been delayed. Rather, the midfielder's wait persists while Slot stews over a third consecutive defeat away, two inflicted by dying-minute strikes and one the outcome of a disputed penalty. Narrow differences, as he emphasized on recently, but they do not camouflage underlying concerns.

Last Season's Impact

Salah was key in driving the side towards a tying 20th league title last season while doubt over his career rumbled in the background. We achieved almost the utmost out of Salah that campaign,” said Slot when his leading striker signed an extension in the spring. There has been a clear drop-off on an personal and team level from then. The squad, not the terms of a contract, are accountable.

Statistical Drop

The 33-year-old's contribution in terms of goals and assists is reduced half on the corresponding point the previous term, from a combined 8 in the opening seven matches of 2024-25 to four (a pair of goals and two assists) this season. The count of attempts has decreased from twenty-two to 12 while shots on target have dropped from 15 to 5, leading to a sharp fall in shot accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6 percent, data show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is his creativity. With twelve opportunities made, versus fourteen at the equivalent point of last term, his figures stay among the best in Europe and up in the group of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by fifteen and 13 years each.

Team Output

Metrics of team output will worry the coach further. Salah had seventy-six touches in the opposition box in the initial seven matches of the prior campaign. This season's count is 39. These figures are symptomatic of the team's difficulties as a whole. Just United and Arsenal have taken more attempts on goal than them now, but Liverpool's percentage of shots from within the six-yard area is the lowest in the top flight, their share from outside the area among the top. Liverpool's rate of accurate shots – 28.4% – is as well among the weakest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we mostly found the net from a special moment from a forward and in the later stage it was more from a dead ball,” Slot said. “This season we lack as many sparks of quality and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the side that from open play generates the highest xG chances.”

Recent Additions

They are not hurting opponents in the manner Slot imagined when Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were brought on board this summer, while Liverpool stay the division's joint third-highest scorers. A draw on the weekend would be sufficient for him to reach the 100-point mark in less games than any coach in Liverpool's history (46). Consider what his attack will do when it clicks. The side are still a team of outstanding talent, able to igniting and chasing any opponent for the championship, but cohesion is lacking. This cannot be attributed on the recent arrivals only.

Individual and Collective Issues

The player is not the sole senior member to suffer a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to fitness and the defender struggling. But he is at the core of the upheaval that has lately enveloped Liverpool. This applies to a personal level, with Salah's sorrow over the death of Diogo Jota obvious on that poignant season opener against the Cherries. The effect of his death can neither be quantified nor overlooked.

Strategic Adjustments

Previously, he