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It's been a while, but Liverpool's forward reappeared taking on the starring role recently with a brace in Casablanca that secured the Egyptian team's spot at the 2026 World Cup. The main man stepping on the limelight once more. The Reds must have him to keep that position.

Factors for Variable Performances

There exist several factors why unsteady, lackluster displays have been the recurring theme running through Liverpool's beginning to their championship defense, if they recorded a winning streak or, before Manchester United's trip to Liverpool's home ground on the weekend, three losses in a row. The disruption from multiple new signings, Arne Slot's hunt for his best XI, the late forward's tragic death; the winger has felt the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically low-key opening to the term.

Sunday's Big Match

Sunday's key fixture could provide the spark for the cause of a record 16 goals in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not won at their fierce rivals for almost a decade. The attacker will pose the manager with an additional unexpected problem, yet, should he continue caught in the turmoil much longer.

Recent Display

Liverpool's boss likely noticed the contrast of the player's opening strike against the opponent last Wednesday. Swept immediately with the outside of his left foot inside the front post, his eighth strike of Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign came from an nearly the same position to his expensive error against Chelsea before the national team pause.

Had that attempt been scored shortly after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be praising Florian Wirtz's first excellent pass in the league. Discussions into Salah's drop and Liverpool's infrequent losing streak might as well have been postponed. Instead, the midfielder's wait persists while Slot stews over a third consecutive loss on the road, two inflicted by last-minute winners and one the outcome of a debatable penalty. Fine lines, as Slot reiterated on recently, but they do not mask underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Influence

Salah was instrumental in propelling the side towards a record-equalling 20th crown the previous term while speculation over his long-term plans persisted in the background. “We brought nearly the best out of Salah that campaign,” said Slot when his leading striker signed a fresh deal in the spring. There has been a obvious drop-off on an personal and team level from then. The lineup, not the details of a contract, are responsible.

Statistical Drop

His contribution in terms of scores and setups is reduced half on the corresponding point the prior campaign, from a combined eight in the first seven fixtures of last season to four (a pair of goals and two assists) this season. The count of shots has fallen from 22 to twelve while shots on target have dropped from fifteen to 5, leading to a steep fall in shot accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, data show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is Salah's chance creation. With 12 key passes, against fourteen at the equivalent point of last term, his numbers are among the top in Europe and up in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Collective Display

Measures of team display will worry Slot additionally. Salah had 76 contacts in the enemy penalty area in the initial seven league games of last season. This season's total is thirty-nine. The numbers are reflective of the squad's difficulties as a whole. Only Manchester United and the Gunners have tried more attempts on goal than them this season, but the team's percentage of shots from within the six-yard area is the smallest in the top flight, their ratio from long range among the top. The club's rate of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is as well among the lowest in the competition.

“In the first half of last season we mainly scored from an individual brilliance from an attacker and in the second half it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “This season we haven’t had as numerous sparks of quality and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are still the team that from general play produces the most xG chances.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not hurting rivals in the manner Slot imagined when Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were signed this summer, while the team remain the division's equal third-top goalscorers. A draw on the weekend would be sufficient for Slot to attain the 100-point mark in fewer games than any manager in the club's past (forty-six). Imagine what his forward line will do when it does settle. Liverpool are still a team of exceptional talent, able to igniting and reeling in any foe for the title, but synergy is missing. That cannot be pinned on the new signings only.

Personal and Team Problems

Salah is not the sole senior player to experience a dip, with the midfielder regaining to match sharpness and the defender laboring. But he is at the heart of the upheaval that has lately engulfed Liverpool. That extends to a personal level, with his sorrow over the passing of Jota evident on that poignant opening night against the Cherries. The impact of Jota's death can neither be assessed nor overlooked.

Strategic Changes

Last season, he