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It has been a period, but Mohamed Salah returned playing the main part in recent days with a brace in Morocco that sealed Egypt's spot at the 2026 World Cup. The star claiming center stage yet again. The Reds need him to stay there.

Factors for Unsteady Showings

There are many factors why inconsistent, lackluster performances have been the common thread characterizing the team's opening to their title defence, whether they achieved seven straight victories or, before Manchester United's trip to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, a losing run. The disruption from numerous offseason moves, Arne Slot's hunt for his best XI, Diogo Jota's loss; Salah has felt the consequences of them all during his uncharacteristically low-key beginning to the campaign.

Sunday's Big Match

Sunday's big match could offer the impetus for the origin of a record 16 goals in 17 appearances for Liverpool against United, who are making their 100th visit to the stadium and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for almost a decade. The attacker will create the manager with a further unexpected problem, yet, if he remain lost in the disruption indefinitely.

Recent Display

Liverpool's manager must have recognized the irony of the player's initial score against the opponent last Wednesday. Swept first time with the outside of his stronger foot inside the close post, Salah's eighth strike of Egypt's qualifying effort originated from an almost identical location to his big mistake in the Chelsea match before the break for internationals.

Had that attempt been converted moments after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would still be eulogising Florian Wirtz's first superb pass in the English top flight. Discussions into Salah's drop and Liverpool's infrequent defeat streak might as well have been avoided. Instead, Wirtz's search continues while the coach broods over a third defeat away, two due to late goals and one the result of a disputed penalty. Fine lines, as Slot reiterated on recently, but they cannot hide bigger issues.

Previous Campaign's Impact

Salah was instrumental in driving Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th league title last season while doubt over his future persisted in the background. We achieved nearly the utmost out of Mo that campaign,” said Slot when his leading striker signed an extension in the spring. We have seen a clear decline on an individual and collective level since. The lineup, not the terms of a contract, are to blame.

Performance Decrease

The 33-year-old's output in terms of goals and setups is reduced 50% on the corresponding stage the prior campaign, from a total eight in the opening seven fixtures of last season to 4 (two goals and two assists) this season. His tally of shots has decreased from 22 to 12 while accurate shots have fallen from fifteen to five, causing a sharp decline in shooting accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, data show.

One attribute that has held more steady is his playmaking. With twelve opportunities made, against fourteen at the same stage of last term, his stats are among the finest in the continent and comparable in the ranks of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Team Display

Indicators of collective performance will trouble Slot additionally. He had 76 contacts in the enemy penalty area in the first seven matches of the prior campaign. This season's tally is 39. These figures are indicative of the team's problems overall. Only United and Arsenal have taken more shots on goal than them this season, but Liverpool's rate of shots from within the six-yard box is the poorest in the Premier League, their percentage from distance among the top. Liverpool's percentage of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is also among the poorest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we primarily found the net from a special moment from a forward and in the second half it was mostly from a dead ball,” the manager said. “This season we haven’t had as many acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from live action generates the highest xG chances.”

New Signings

They aren't beating foes in the way Slot envisaged when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were brought on board recently, while Liverpool remain the division's equal third-top goalscorers. A draw on the weekend would be sufficient for him to reach the century of points in less games than any coach in Liverpool's past (46). Think what his attack will do when it finally gels. Liverpool are still a team of outstanding individual quality, able to starting and reeling in any rival for the championship, but synergy is missing. This cannot be pinned on the summer recruits by themselves.

Individual and Team Problems

Salah is not the only established member to suffer a decline, with the midfielder working his way back to match sharpness and Ibrahima Konaté struggling. But he ends up at the core of the turmoil that has lately enveloped Liverpool. That applies to a personal level, with his sadness over the death of Diogo Jota evident on that emotional first game against Bournemouth. The effect of Jota's death can neither be measured nor ignored.

Tactical Changes

Last season, he