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It's been some time, but the Egyptian star was back playing the starring role last week with a double in Casablanca that secured Egypt's spot at the upcoming World Cup. The key player claiming center stage another time. The Merseyside club must have him to keep that position.

Reasons for Inconsistent Displays

There exist several causes why variable, lackluster displays have been the common thread defining the team's opening to their league defense, whether they produced seven straight victories or, before the Red Devils' arrival to Liverpool's home ground on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from so many new signings, Arne Slot's search for his best XI, the late forward's tragic death; the winger has experienced the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically low-key start to the term.

Sunday's Big Match

The weekend's showpiece occasion could provide the spark for the cause of a record 16 goals in 17 games for Liverpool against United, who are making their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not succeeded at their fierce rivals for more than nine years. The attacker will pose Slot with a further surprise issue, however, should he stay lost in the disruption for an extended period.

Latest Performance

Liverpool's head coach must have noticed the paradox of the player's first goal against the opponent in midweek. Swept first time with the outside of his left foot inside the front post, Salah's eighth strike of Egypt's qualifying effort was from an nearly the same location to his big mistake versus Chelsea before the break for internationals.

Had that shot with his right been scored moments after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be eulogising Florian Wirtz's first sublime setup in the Premier League. Analyses into his drop and Liverpool's unusual losing run might also have been avoided. Instead, Wirtz's search continues while Slot broods over a third defeat away, two caused by dying-minute strikes and another the result of a disputed penalty. Narrow differences, as he repeated on Friday, but they do not mask bigger issues.

Last Season's Influence

Salah was crucial in pushing the side towards a record-equalling 20th crown last season while speculation over his long-term plans persisted in the backdrop. We achieved almost the best out of Salah that campaign,” said Slot when his leading striker signed a new two‑year contract in April. We have seen a clear drop-off on an personal and team level since. The lineup, not the details of a deal, are accountable.

Statistical Decline

His production in terms of scores and assists is down 50% on the same point the previous term, from a combined eight in the initial seven fixtures of 2024-25 to four (two goals and two assists) this term. The count of attempts has decreased from twenty-two to twelve while shots on target have fallen from fifteen to five, contributing to a sharp fall in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, data show.

A single trait that has stayed stable is Salah's chance creation. With 12 key passes, compared with fourteen at the equivalent point of the previous season, his stats remain among the finest in the continent and comparable in the group of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Performance

Indicators of team display will worry the coach additionally. Salah had 76 touches in the enemy box in the first seven league games of last season. The current campaign's count is thirty-nine. The numbers are reflective of the team's problems in general. Only United and the Gunners have taken a greater number of shots on goal than Liverpool now, but the team's percentage of shots from within the six-yard area is the smallest in the top flight, their percentage from long range among the greatest. Liverpool's percentage of accurate shots – 28.4% – is also among the lowest in the competition.

“In the first half of last season we mainly scored from an individual brilliance from one of our front three and in the second half it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Now we lack as many acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from live action generates the highest expected goals opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting opponents in the way the coach planned when Wirtz, the French forward and Alexander Isak were acquired recently, while the team remain the division's equal third-top goalscorers. A tie on Sunday would be sufficient for him to reach the 100-point total in less games than any coach in the club's past (forty-six). Think what his offense will do when it finally gels. Liverpool remain a squad of outstanding skill, equipped to sparking and reeling in any foe for the championship, but unity is lacking. This cannot be attributed on the summer recruits only.

Personal and Team Issues

Salah is not the sole senior member to suffer a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to match sharpness and the defender toiling. But he ends up at the heart of the upheaval that has of late enveloped Liverpool. This applies to a personal level, with Salah's sadness over the loss of Diogo Jota evident on that poignant opening night against Bournemouth. The impact of Jota's loss can neither be measured nor ignored.

Tactical Changes

Previously, he