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It's been a period, but the Egyptian star was back assuming the main part recently with two goals in Casablanca that confirmed the Egyptian team's place at the global tournament. The star stepping on the limelight yet again. The Reds need him to stay there.

Factors for Inconsistent Showings

There are numerous reasons why inconsistent, unimpressive displays have been the frequent pattern defining the team's beginning to their title defence, if they recorded a winning streak or, before the Red Devils' visit to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, three losses in a row. The upheaval from numerous new signings, Arne Slot's quest for his top team, Diogo Jota's loss; the winger has felt the consequences of them all during his unusually quiet beginning to the season.

The Weekend's Key Fixture

Sunday's showpiece occasion could provide the catalyst for the cause of a record 16 strikes in 17 games for Liverpool against United, who are making their centenary trip to Anfield and have not triumphed at their archrivals for over nine years. The attacker will present the manager with an additional unexpected problem, though, should he stay lost in the turmoil much longer.

Current Form

The team's head coach likely noticed the irony of Salah's initial score against Djibouti recently. Drilled first time with the exterior of his stronger foot inside the close post, his eighth strike of Egypt's qualifying effort came from an nearly the same position to his expensive error in the Chelsea match prior to the break for internationals.

Had that shot with his right been scored moments after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be praising Florian Wirtz's first superb assist in the Premier League. Inquests into his dip and Liverpool's unusual defeat streak might also have been delayed. Rather, Wirtz's search goes on while Slot stews over a third away defeat, a couple caused by late goals and another the outcome of a debatable penalty. Fine lines, as Slot emphasized on Friday, but they cannot hide larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Influence

The forward was instrumental in pushing Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th league title the previous term while doubt over his career lingered in the backdrop. “We brought almost the best out of Salah that campaign,” said the manager when his leading striker signed a fresh deal in the spring. There has been a obvious decline on an individual and collective level from then. The team, not the details of a deal, are responsible.

Statistical Drop

His contribution in terms of scores and assists is reduced 50% on the corresponding stage the prior campaign, from a total eight in the initial seven fixtures of 2024-25 to four (two goals and two assists) this season. His tally of shots has decreased from twenty-two to 12 while efforts on goal have fallen from fifteen to five, causing a sharp decline in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, figures show.

One attribute that has remained consistent is Salah's chance creation. With twelve key passes, against fourteen at the same stage of the previous season, his stats are among the best in Europe and comparable in the group of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Collective Performance

Indicators of collective display will worry Slot more. Salah had seventy-six touches in the opposition penalty area in the first seven league games of the prior campaign. This term's total is 39. The numbers are indicative of the team's problems overall. Just Manchester United and Arsenal have taken more attempts on goal than Liverpool now, but the team's rate of shots from within the six-yard box is the poorest in the Premier League, their ratio from outside the area among the highest. Liverpool'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 mostly found the net from an individual brilliance from an attacker and in the second half it was mostly from a dead ball,” the manager said. “Now we haven’t had as numerous moments of genius and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are still the side that from open play produces the highest quality opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They are not punishing foes in the manner the coach envisaged when Florian Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were acquired recently, while Liverpool remain the league's joint third-highest goalscorers. A draw on the weekend would be enough for him to attain the 100-point mark in fewer games than any coach in Liverpool's history (46). Imagine what his forward line will do when it does settle. The side remain a squad of outstanding talent, able to sparking and catching any rival for the title, but cohesion is absent. This cannot be attributed on the summer recruits alone.

Individual and Team Issues

Salah is not the sole key player to experience a drop-off, with the midfielder working his way back to fitness and Ibrahima Konaté struggling. But he finds himself at the core of the disruption that has of late affected the club. This goes to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the passing of Diogo Jota obvious on that heartfelt season opener against the Cherries. The influence of Jota's tragedy can neither be assessed nor dismissed.

Tactical Shifts

Previously, he