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It's been a while, but Liverpool's forward was back playing the lead part in recent days with a double in Morocco that secured Egypt's spot at the global tournament. The main man stepping on the limelight another time. Liverpool require him to keep that position.

Reasons for Unsteady Performances

We see many causes why variable, lackluster displays have been the common thread characterizing Liverpool's opening to their championship defense, whether they produced a winning streak or, prior to the Red Devils' trip to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from multiple new signings, the coach's search for his top team, the late forward's loss; the winger has endured the impact of them all during his uncharacteristically quiet start to the term.

Sunday's Showpiece Occasion

The weekend's showpiece occasion could deliver the impetus 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 more than nine years. The attacker will pose the manager with another unexpected problem, yet, if he remain lost in the upheaval much longer.

Latest Form

The team's manager likely noticed the contrast of the player's initial score against the opponent recently. Swept first time with the outside of his left foot inside the near post, Salah's eighth score of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign was from an nearly the same position to his big mistake against Chelsea before the break for internationals.

If that attempt been scored shortly after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would even now be praising Florian Wirtz's first excellent setup in the Premier League. Inquests into his dip and the team's infrequent losing streak might as well have been delayed. Instead, Wirtz's wait continues while the coach broods over a third consecutive defeat away, two due to last-minute winners and one the result of a controversial spot-kick. Small margins, as Slot reiterated on recently, but they do not mask bigger issues.

Last Season's Influence

Salah was key in driving Liverpool towards a historic 20th crown the prior campaign while doubt over his career persisted in the background. “We brought almost the best out of Mo that campaign,” said the manager when his leading striker signed a fresh deal in the spring. There has been a clear decline on an individual and team level since. The team, not the terms of a contract, are accountable.

Statistical Decline

His production in terms of scores and setups is reduced half on the same point the previous term, from a combined 8 in the initial seven fixtures of 2024-25 to four (a pair of goals and two assists) this season. His number of shots has decreased from 22 to twelve while accurate shots have fallen from fifteen to 5, causing a sharp drop in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, statistics show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is Salah's chance creation. With twelve key passes, against fourteen at the same stage of last term, his figures remain among the top in the continent and comparable in the group of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Collective Output

Measures of collective display will worry Slot further. He had 76 touches in the enemy box in the first seven matches of the prior campaign. The current campaign's tally is 39. The stats are indicative of the team's difficulties in general. Just Manchester United and the Gunners have tried a greater number of shots on goal than them now, but the team's proportion of attempts from within the six-yard area is the smallest in the division, their ratio from outside the area among the top. The club's proportion of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is as well among the poorest in the competition.

“In the first half of last season we mostly found the net from a special moment from one of our front three and in the later stage it was mostly from a set piece,” Slot said. “Now we lack as numerous sparks of quality and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the team that from live action generates the most xG chances.”

Recent Additions

They are not beating foes in the fashion Slot envisaged when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were signed this summer, although Liverpool remain the division's equal third-top scorers. A draw on Sunday would be enough for Slot to achieve the 100-point total in less games than any manager in Liverpool's past (46). Consider what his forward line will do when it finally gels. The side are still a team of exceptional skill, equipped to sparking and catching any opponent for the title, but cohesion is absent. That cannot be attributed on the recent arrivals only.

Personal and Collective Issues

The player is not the only key member to experience a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to match sharpness and the defender struggling. But he is at the heart of the upheaval that has of late engulfed the club. That extends to a individual level, with Salah's grief over the passing of Jota clear on that poignant first game against the Cherries. The effect of his loss can neither be assessed nor ignored.

Strategic Changes

Last season, he