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It has been some time, but Liverpool's forward was back taking on the starring role last week with two goals in Casablanca that sealed the Egyptian team's position at the 2026 World Cup. The star stepping on center stage yet again. The Merseyside club must have him to stay there.

Reasons for Inconsistent Performances

There exist numerous factors why variable, unconvincing displays have been the common thread defining the team's opening to their league defense, if they achieved seven wins in a row or, before the Red Devils' visit to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The disruption from numerous new signings, the coach's search for his best XI, the late forward's loss; Salah has experienced the effect of them all during his unusually quiet start to the season.

Sunday's Showpiece Occasion

The weekend's key fixture could offer the spark for the cause of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 outings for the club against United, who are making their 100th visit to Anfield and have not won at their biggest foes for more than nine years. Salah will create Slot with a further surprise issue, yet, should he stay caught in the upheaval for an extended period.

Recent Form

The team's head coach must have seen the contrast of the player's initial score against Djibouti in midweek. Drilled first time with the outside of his left foot inside the close post, Salah's eighth goal of the national team's qualification run came from an very similar location to his big mistake against Chelsea before the national team pause.

Had that attempt been finished shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would even now be eulogising the new signing's first excellent assist in the Premier League. Discussions into Salah's drop and Liverpool's infrequent defeat streak might as well have been avoided. Instead, the midfielder's search goes on while the coach broods over a third defeat away, two caused by dying-minute strikes and one the result of a disputed penalty. Narrow differences, as he emphasized on Friday, but they cannot hide underlying concerns.

Last Season's Impact

Salah was crucial in pushing Liverpool towards a historic 20th league title the previous term while speculation over his long-term plans persisted in the background. “We brought almost the utmost out of Salah last term,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. We have seen a noticeable drop-off on an individual and team level since. The team, not the terms of a deal, are responsible.

Statistical Decrease

His production in terms of goals and setups is down half on the same stage last season, from a total 8 in the initial seven league games of last season to four (a pair of goals and two assists) the current campaign. His tally of shots has dropped from twenty-two to twelve while shots on target have dropped from 15 to 5, causing a steep fall in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

A single trait that has stayed stable is his creativity. With twelve key passes, against 14 at the equivalent point of last term, his stats stay among the best in Europe and comparable in the ranks of young talents and Arda Güler, his juniors by 15 and 13 years each.

Team Output

Indicators of collective output will trouble the coach additionally. Salah had seventy-six contacts in the opposition penalty area in the initial seven matches of the previous term. This term's tally is 39. The numbers are reflective of the team's issues in general. Only United and the Gunners have taken more shots on goal than them this season, but Liverpool's proportion of attempts from within the six-yard box is the smallest in the Premier League, their share from long range among the greatest. The club's proportion of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is as well among the lowest in the competition.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we primarily found the net from a moment of magic from one of our front three and in the second half it was mostly from a dead ball,” Slot said. “This season we haven’t had as many moments of genius and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the team that from live action creates the most xG chances.”

Summer Arrivals

They aren't beating foes in the way Slot envisaged when Florian Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were signed recently, while Liverpool stay the league's joint third-highest goalscorers. A draw on Sunday would be enough for him to achieve the 100-point mark in fewer games than any coach in the club's history (forty-six). Think what his forward line will do when it finally gels. Liverpool are still a squad of exceptional skill, equipped to sparking and reeling in any rival for the championship, but unity is lacking. That can not be blamed on the summer recruits only.

Individual and Team Problems

The player is not the only established player to experience a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to form and the defender laboring. But he ends up at the core of the disruption that has recently engulfed Liverpool. That applies to a individual level, with his grief over the death of Diogo Jota obvious on that poignant season opener against the Cherries. The impact of his tragedy can not be measured nor overlooked.

Strategic Shifts

Previously, he