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It has been some time, but the Egyptian star reappeared taking on the main part last week with a brace in Casablanca that sealed the Egyptian team's spot at the global tournament. The main man taking the limelight yet again. The Merseyside club need him to stay there.

Reasons for Inconsistent Performances

There are several factors why unsteady, lackluster showings have been the recurring theme characterizing the team's opening to their league defense, if they recorded seven straight victories or, prior to the Red Devils' arrival to Liverpool's home ground on the weekend, three losses in a row. The turmoil from multiple new signings, the coach's hunt for his best XI, Diogo Jota's tragic death; the winger has endured the effect of them all during his unusually low-key start to the season.

Sunday's Big Match

Sunday's big match could provide the spark for the source of a impressive 16 goals in 17 appearances for the club against Manchester United, who are making their centenary trip to Anfield and have not triumphed at their biggest foes for more than nine years. The attacker will create Slot with another unforeseen dilemma, yet, should he remain lost in the upheaval much longer.

Current Display

The team's manager likely recognized the contrast of the player's opening strike against Djibouti recently. Drilled directly with the outside of his stronger foot inside the close post, Salah's eighth goal of the national team's qualifying effort was from an very similar spot to his big mistake against Chelsea prior to the break for internationals.

If that attempt been scored shortly after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would even now be eulogising Florian Wirtz's maiden excellent setup in the Premier League. Inquests into Salah's drop and Liverpool's rare losing streak might also have been avoided. Instead, Wirtz's search goes on while the coach fumes over a third loss on the road, a couple inflicted by dying-minute strikes and another the result of a disputed penalty. Fine lines, as Slot emphasized on Friday, but they cannot hide bigger issues.

Previous Campaign's Impact

The forward was instrumental in propelling Liverpool towards a historic 20th crown the previous term while speculation over his career persisted in the backdrop. “We brought almost the maximum out of Salah that campaign,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a fresh deal in April. There has been a noticeable decline on an personal and team level since. The squad, not the terms of a contract, are accountable.

Statistical Drop

The 33-year-old's production in terms of goals and assists is lower 50% on the corresponding point the previous term, from a combined eight in the initial seven league games of 2024-25 to four (a pair of goals and two assists) the current campaign. The count of shots has decreased from twenty-two to 12 while accurate shots have fallen from fifteen to five, contributing to a steep decline in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, figures show.

A single trait that has stayed stable is his chance creation. With 12 key passes, versus fourteen at the equivalent point of the previous season, his numbers are among the top in Europe and comparable in the group of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Output

Metrics of team output will concern Slot further. Salah had seventy-six touches in the enemy box in the first seven league games of last season. This term's tally is 39. The stats are symptomatic of the team's problems overall. Only United and Arsenal have attempted a greater number of attempts on goal than Liverpool in the current term, but the team's percentage of attempts from inside the goal area is the poorest in the division, their ratio from long range among the top. Liverpool's rate of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is also among the poorest in the competition.

During the initial phase of last season we mainly found the net 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. “This season we haven’t had as numerous acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the side that from open play generates the most expected goals opportunities.”

New Signings

They aren't hurting opponents in the way the coach planned when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were brought on board this summer, while Liverpool are the league's joint third-highest goalscorers. A tie on Sunday would be enough for him to reach the 100-point total in fewer games than any boss in Liverpool's history (forty-six). Imagine what his attack will do when it clicks. Liverpool are still a squad of supreme skill, capable of igniting and catching any foe for the title, but cohesion is lacking. That can not be blamed on the summer recruits alone.

Personal and Team Issues

Salah is not the sole senior member to experience a decline, with the midfielder regaining to fitness and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he finds himself at the heart of the turmoil that has lately engulfed Liverpool. That goes to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the death of Jota obvious on that heartfelt season opener against Bournemouth. The effect of his death can neither be measured nor ignored.

Strategic Changes

Previously, he