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It's been a while, but Liverpool's forward was back assuming the starring role last week with a double in Morocco that confirmed Egypt's place at the 2026 World Cup. The key player claiming the limelight another time. The Reds require him to remain there.

Reasons for Inconsistent Performances

We see many causes why variable, lackluster displays have been the recurring theme running through Liverpool's start to their title defence, if they recorded seven straight victories or, before Manchester United's trip to Anfield on Sunday, three losses in a row. The disruption from so many summer changes, the coach's search for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's loss; the winger has felt the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically low-key beginning to the season.

Sunday's Big Match

Sunday's showpiece occasion could offer the impetus for the cause of a record 16 scores in 17 games for the club against Manchester United, who are paying their 100th visit to the stadium and have not triumphed at their archrivals for more than nine years. The attacker will present the manager with an additional surprise issue, yet, should he stay lost in the upheaval much longer.

Recent Display

Liverpool's boss must have seen the contrast of Salah's opening strike against the opponent recently. Drilled first time with the outside of his stronger foot inside the front post, Salah's eighth score of Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign originated from an almost identical location to his big mistake in the Chelsea match before the international break.

Had that shot with his right been finished moments after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would still be eulogising the new signing's first excellent pass in the English top flight. Discussions into Salah's dip and Liverpool's rare losing run might as well have been avoided. Instead, Wirtz's wait goes on while the coach broods over a third loss on the road, a couple caused by late goals and one the outcome of a controversial spot-kick. Narrow differences, as he repeated on recently, but they do not camouflage bigger issues.

Last Season's Influence

The forward was crucial in propelling Liverpool towards a historic 20th league title the previous term while uncertainty over his career rumbled in the backdrop. “We brought nearly the maximum out of Salah this season,” said the manager when his leading striker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. There has been a obvious decrease on an personal and team level since. The lineup, not the details of a deal, are to blame.

Performance Drop

The 33-year-old's output in terms of scores and assists is lower 50% on the same point last season, from a combined eight in the opening seven fixtures of last season to 4 (a pair of goals and two assists) this season. The count of attempts has dropped from 22 to 12 while efforts on goal have dropped from fifteen to 5, causing a significant fall in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

One attribute that has stayed stable is Salah's chance creation. With twelve chances created, against 14 at the equivalent point of last campaign, his numbers stay among the top in the continent and comparable in the group of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Collective Output

Metrics of collective performance will trouble Slot further. He had 76 contacts in the opposition penalty area in the opening seven fixtures of last season. This season's count is 39. The stats are indicative of the team's issues as a whole. Just Manchester United and Arsenal have tried more attempts on goal than Liverpool now, but Liverpool's proportion of shots from inside the six-yard box is the lowest in the Premier League, their percentage from distance among the highest. The club's rate of shots on target – 28.4 percent – is also among the poorest in the competition.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we mainly scored from a special moment from an attacker and in the later stage it was more from a dead ball,” Slot 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 creates the most expected goals opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They aren't beating opponents in the manner Slot imagined when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were brought on board this summer, although the team remain the division's third-best goalscorers. A draw on the weekend would be enough for Slot to attain the century of points in fewer games than any coach in the club's past (46). Imagine what his offense will do when it finally gels. Liverpool are still a squad of outstanding individual quality, able to starting and reeling in any opponent for the title, but unity is missing. This can not be pinned on the summer recruits by themselves.

Personal and Collective Problems

The player is not the only 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 center of the disruption that has lately affected Liverpool. This extends to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the death of Jota clear on that emotional season opener against the Cherries. The impact of Jota's loss can neither be quantified nor overlooked.

Strategic Changes

In the prior campaign, he