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It's been a while, but Liverpool's forward returned assuming the lead part recently with a brace in Morocco that secured Egypt's place at the 2026 World Cup. The main man claiming the spotlight another time. Liverpool require him to keep that position.

Reasons for Unsteady Displays

We see many reasons why variable, lackluster displays have been the frequent pattern characterizing Liverpool's opening to their title defence, whether they achieved seven wins in a row or, prior to Manchester United's visit to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The turmoil from numerous summer changes, Arne Slot's quest for his top team, Diogo Jota's passing; Salah has felt the impact of them all during his uncharacteristically quiet start to the campaign.

The Weekend's Big Match

Sunday's key fixture could offer the spark for the cause of a record 16 strikes in 17 outings for the club against United, who are making their centenary trip to the stadium and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for over nine years. The attacker will pose the manager with a further unforeseen dilemma, however, if he stay caught in the upheaval indefinitely.

Recent Performance

Liverpool's boss likely seen the irony 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 goal of Egypt's qualification run came from an nearly the same position to his big mistake in the Chelsea match before the break for internationals.

If that right-foot effort been finished shortly after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would even now be eulogising the new signing's maiden sublime pass in the Premier League. Inquests into his drop and the team's unusual defeat streak might as well have been delayed. Instead, the midfielder's search persists while Slot broods over a third defeat away, a couple due to late goals and one the result of a disputed penalty. Fine lines, as he reiterated on recently, but they do not camouflage underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

The forward was crucial in propelling the side towards a historic 20th championship the previous term while doubt over his long-term plans lingered in the backdrop. “We brought nearly the maximum out of Salah last term,” said Slot when his top scorer signed an extension in April. We have seen a clear drop-off on an personal and team level from then. The team, not the details of a deal, are accountable.

Performance Decrease

His contribution in terms of scores and setups is lower 50% on the same stage last season, from a combined 8 in the first seven matches of last season to four (two goals and a couple of assists) the current campaign. His tally of shots has fallen from 22 to 12 while shots on target have declined from 15 to five, leading to a steep decline in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, figures show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is his playmaking. With twelve chances created, versus 14 at the same stage of the previous season, his figures remain among the finest in the continent and up in the company of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Performance

Measures of team performance will trouble Slot further. Salah had seventy-six contacts in the opposition penalty area in the initial seven matches of last season. The current campaign's tally is 39. The numbers are reflective of the squad's issues overall. Only United and Arsenal have tried more shots on goal than them in the current term, but the team's percentage of attempts from inside the six-yard area is the poorest in the Premier League, their ratio from long range among the greatest. The club's proportion of shots on target – 28.4 percent – is also among the weakest in the competition.

“In the first half of the previous campaign we mainly scored from an individual brilliance from a forward and in the later stage it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Currently we have not seen as many acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the side that from live action generates the highest xG chances.”

New Signings

They aren't hurting foes in the fashion the coach envisaged when Wirtz, the French forward and Alexander Isak were acquired recently, though Liverpool remain the division's third-best scorers. A tie on Sunday would be sufficient for him to reach the 100-point mark in less games than any boss in the club's history (46). Consider what his forward line will do when it does settle. The side remain a squad of exceptional talent, capable of igniting and reeling in any rival for the championship, but cohesion is missing. That cannot be pinned on the recent arrivals only.

Personal and Collective Challenges

Salah is not the only key member to experience a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to match sharpness and the defender struggling. But he ends up at the core of the turmoil that has lately engulfed Liverpool. This goes to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the passing of Diogo Jota obvious on that emotional first game against Bournemouth. The influence of his loss can neither be quantified nor overlooked.

Strategic Adjustments

In the prior campaign, he