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It has been some time, but the Egyptian star returned assuming the starring role in recent days with a double in Casablanca that confirmed the Egyptian team's position at the 2026 World Cup. The star taking center stage once more. The Reds need him to remain there.

Factors for Variable Displays

There exist several reasons why variable, lackluster performances have been the recurring theme characterizing the team's start to their title defence, if they recorded seven straight victories or, prior to the Red Devils' trip to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from multiple new signings, Arne Slot's search for his top team, Diogo Jota's tragic death; Salah has experienced the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically subdued beginning to the season.

Sunday's Key Fixture

Sunday's key fixture could provide the catalyst for the cause of a record 16 goals in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are paying their 100th visit to Anfield and have not triumphed at their archrivals for over nine years. The attacker will present the manager with another surprise issue, yet, if he continue caught in the upheaval for an extended period.

Current Performance

Liverpool's boss likely noticed the paradox of Salah's initial score against Djibouti last Wednesday. Struck immediately with the outside of his left foot into the close post, his eighth goal of Egypt's qualifying effort came from an very similar location to his costly miss in the Chelsea match prior to the international break.

If that right-foot effort been finished shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would even now be praising the new signing's first excellent pass in the Premier League. Inquests into Salah's decline and the team's unusual losing streak might as well have been delayed. Instead, Wirtz's search continues while the coach broods over a third consecutive defeat away, two due to dying-minute strikes and one the result of a disputed penalty. Fine lines, as Slot repeated on Friday, but they cannot hide bigger issues.

Previous Campaign's Impact

Salah was crucial in driving Liverpool towards a historic 20th crown last season while doubt over his long-term plans persisted in the backdrop. “We brought almost the utmost out of Mo last term,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a fresh deal in the spring. We have seen a clear decline on an personal and collective level since. The squad, not the details of a contract, are responsible.

Statistical Decrease

His contribution in terms of scores and assists is reduced 50% on the corresponding stage last season, from a total eight in the first seven fixtures of 2024-25 to 4 (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this term. His tally of shots has dropped from twenty-two to 12 while efforts on goal have dropped from fifteen to 5, causing a significant drop in shot accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, statistics show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is Salah's playmaking. With 12 opportunities made, versus 14 at the comparable period of last campaign, his stats are among the finest in Europe and up in the company of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Team Performance

Indicators of collective performance will worry Slot more. He had seventy-six touches in the enemy box in the initial seven matches of the prior campaign. The current campaign's tally is 39. These figures are reflective of the team's problems in general. Only United and Arsenal have taken a greater number of shots on goal than Liverpool now, but Liverpool's rate of shots from inside the goal area is the lowest in the division, their share from long range among the highest. The club's proportion of shots on target – 28.4% – is also among the poorest in the competition.

During the initial phase of last season we primarily found the net from a special moment from a forward and in the second half it was mostly from a set piece,” the manager said. “Currently we haven’t had as many moments of genius and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the side that from live action creates the most quality opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They aren't beating opponents in the fashion Slot planned when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were acquired recently, though Liverpool remain the division's third-best goalscorers. A draw on Sunday would be sufficient for him to reach the 100-point mark in less games than any coach in Liverpool's history (forty-six). Consider what his attack will do when it finally gels. The side remain a team of supreme individual quality, able to starting and chasing any rival for the championship, but synergy is absent. This can not be blamed on the summer recruits by themselves.

Individual and Team Problems

Salah is not the only senior member to experience a decline, with the midfielder returning to fitness and Ibrahima Konaté toiling. But he ends up at the center of the turmoil that has of late enveloped Liverpool. This extends to a individual level, with his grief over the passing of Diogo Jota obvious on that poignant season opener against Bournemouth. The influence of Jota's death can not be quantified nor ignored.

Tactical Changes

In the prior campaign, he