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It has been some time, but Mohamed Salah returned taking on the starring role last week with two goals in Morocco that sealed the Egyptian team's place at the upcoming World Cup. The star taking the spotlight another time. The Merseyside club require him to remain there.

Factors for Inconsistent Performances

There exist numerous reasons why variable, unimpressive performances have been the recurring theme characterizing Liverpool's start to their title defence, whether they produced a winning streak or, before the Red Devils' visit to Anfield on Sunday, a losing run. The upheaval from multiple summer changes, the coach's quest for his top team, the late forward's passing; the winger has endured the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically subdued start to the season.

The Weekend's Big Match

Sunday's showpiece occasion could deliver the spark for the source of a record 16 scores in 17 appearances for Liverpool against United, who are paying their centenary trip to the stadium and have not won at their archrivals for over nine years. The attacker will present the manager with another unexpected problem, however, should he remain caught in the disruption for an extended period.

Recent Performance

The team's boss likely seen the paradox of the player's initial score against the opponent last Wednesday. Struck immediately with the outside of his left foot into the front post, Salah's eighth strike of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign was from an almost identical location to his expensive error in the Chelsea match prior to the international break.

Had that shot with his right been scored moments after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would even now be celebrating the new signing's maiden excellent setup in the Premier League. Analyses into his dip and the team's infrequent defeat streak might also have been avoided. Instead, Wirtz's wait continues while the coach stews over a third consecutive loss on the road, two inflicted by late goals and another the result of a controversial spot-kick. Small margins, as Slot reiterated on recently, but they cannot hide underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

The forward was key in driving Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th championship last season while speculation over his future persisted in the backdrop. We achieved almost the utmost out of Salah last term,” said the manager when his leading striker signed a fresh deal in the spring. There has been a clear decline on an personal and collective level since. The squad, not the details of a contract, are responsible.

Performance Decrease

His contribution in terms of scores and assists is reduced half on the corresponding point the previous term, from a total 8 in the initial seven matches of 2024-25 to four (two goals and two assists) this season. The count of attempts has decreased from 22 to 12 while efforts on goal have declined from fifteen to five, leading to a significant 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 playmaking. With 12 opportunities made, versus 14 at the equivalent point of last campaign, his stats remain among the best in Europe and up in the group of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his juniors by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Collective Display

Metrics of collective performance will worry Slot more. He had seventy-six contacts in the opposition penalty area in the opening seven fixtures of last season. This term's tally is thirty-nine. The stats are reflective of the team's problems as a whole. Only Manchester United and the Gunners have attempted a greater number of shots on goal than them this season, but the team's proportion of shots from inside the six-yard box is the lowest in the top flight, their percentage from long range among the greatest. Liverpool's percentage of shots on target – 28.4% – is also among the lowest in the league.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we primarily scored from a special moment from a forward and in the later stage it was mostly from a dead ball,” Slot said. “This season we haven’t had as numerous sparks of quality and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from open play produces the most quality opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not hurting foes in the way Slot planned when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were brought on board this summer, although Liverpool remain the league's joint third-highest scorers. A tie on the weekend would be enough for him to attain the 100-point mark in fewer games than any coach in Liverpool's history (46). Imagine what his offense will do when it finally gels. Liverpool are still a team of supreme talent, equipped to starting and chasing any rival for the championship, but cohesion is lacking. This cannot be attributed on the new signings by themselves.

Personal and Team Challenges

The player is not the only key member to experience a drop-off, with the midfielder working his way back to fitness and the defender struggling. But he is at the heart of the disruption that has lately affected the club. This goes to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the passing of Jota obvious on that poignant first game against Bournemouth. The impact of his tragedy can not be measured nor overlooked.

Strategic Adjustments

Previously, he