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It has been a while, but the Egyptian star was back playing the lead part last week with a double in Casablanca that sealed Egypt's place at the 2026 World Cup. The star stepping on the limelight yet again. The Merseyside club need him to keep that position.

Factors for Inconsistent Performances

We see several causes why unsteady, lackluster displays have been the common thread characterizing the team's beginning to their league defense, whether they recorded seven wins in a row or, before Manchester United's arrival to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, a losing run. The upheaval from so many summer changes, Arne Slot's quest for his best XI, Diogo Jota's passing; the winger has endured the consequences of them all during his unusually quiet beginning to the campaign.

Sunday's Big Match

Sunday's big match could offer the spark for the cause of a impressive 16 scores in 17 outings for the club against United, who are making their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not won at their fierce rivals for almost a decade. The attacker will present Slot with another surprise issue, however, should he stay caught in the disruption for an extended period.

Recent Form

The team's manager must have seen the paradox of the player's initial score against the opponent in midweek. Swept directly with the outside of his stronger foot into the near post, Salah's eighth score of the national team's qualifying effort originated from an very similar position to his costly miss against Chelsea prior to the international break.

If that shot with his right been converted moments after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be praising Florian Wirtz's first sublime assist in the English top flight. Analyses into Salah's decline and the team's rare defeat streak might also have been delayed. Instead, the midfielder's search persists while the coach fumes over a third away defeat, two caused by late goals and another the result of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as Slot reiterated on recently, but they do not camouflage larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Influence

Salah was key in pushing Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th crown last season while speculation over his future lingered in the backdrop. “We brought nearly the best out of Salah that campaign,” said Slot when his top scorer signed an extension in April. We have seen a clear decline on an personal and collective level since. The team, not the details of a deal, are responsible.

Statistical Decrease

His production in terms of scores and setups is reduced 50% on the corresponding stage the previous term, from a total eight in the first seven league games of 2024-25 to 4 (a pair of goals and two assists) this season. His tally of attempts has decreased from 22 to twelve while shots on target have declined from fifteen to 5, causing a significant drop in conversion rate (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, figures show.

A particular skill that has remained consistent is his creativity. With 12 key passes, compared with 14 at the equivalent point of last term, his numbers remain among the top in the continent and comparable in the group of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Team Performance

Metrics of collective performance will trouble the coach more. He had 76 contacts in the opposition penalty area in the first seven league games of the prior campaign. This term's count is thirty-nine. The numbers are reflective of the team's difficulties overall. Only United and Arsenal have taken a greater number of attempts on goal than Liverpool this season, but Liverpool's percentage of attempts from within the goal area is the lowest in the top flight, their share from long range among the highest. Liverpool's rate of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is also among the poorest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we mainly scored from an individual brilliance from a forward and in the later stage it was mostly from a set piece,” Slot said. “This season we lack as numerous moments of genius and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are still the team that from live action generates the most expected goals opportunities.”

New Signings

They aren't punishing opponents in the way the coach planned when Wirtz, the French forward and Alexander Isak were brought on board this summer, though Liverpool remain the division's joint third-highest goalscorers. A draw on the weekend would be enough for Slot to reach the 100-point mark in fewer games than any manager in the club's past (46). Imagine what his forward line will do when it clicks. Liverpool remain a team of supreme individual quality, able to starting and catching any foe for the title, but cohesion is lacking. This cannot be pinned on the new signings alone.

Personal and Team Challenges

Salah is not the only senior player to suffer a dip, with the midfielder regaining to match sharpness and the defender struggling. But he is at the heart of the turmoil that has of late enveloped Liverpool. That goes to a personal level, with Salah's grief over the death of Diogo Jota clear on that heartfelt opening night against the Cherries. The impact of his tragedy can neither be measured nor overlooked.

Tactical Shifts

Last season, he