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It has been some time, but Liverpool's forward was back playing the main part in recent days with two goals in Casablanca that confirmed Egypt's position at the 2026 World Cup. The star taking the limelight another time. The Merseyside club need him to stay there.

Factors for Variable Showings

We see numerous factors why variable, unconvincing showings have been the common thread characterizing the team's opening to their championship defense, whether they recorded seven wins in a row or, before Manchester United's trip to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The disruption from multiple summer changes, the coach's hunt for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's tragic death; the winger has felt the impact of them all during his uncharacteristically low-key opening to the campaign.

The Weekend's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's big match could offer the catalyst for the cause of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 appearances for the club against United, who are making their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not won at their biggest foes for more than nine years. The attacker will present the manager with a further surprise issue, yet, should he stay lost in the turmoil indefinitely.

Recent Performance

The team's boss likely recognized the irony of Salah's initial score against Djibouti recently. Struck first time with the exterior of his stronger foot into the close post, his eighth strike of the national team's qualifying effort was from an almost identical spot to his big mistake against Chelsea prior to the national team pause.

Had that right-foot effort been finished shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be praising Florian Wirtz's maiden superb pass in the Premier League. Inquests into Salah's dip and Liverpool's infrequent losing run might as well have been avoided. Instead, the midfielder's search goes on while the coach fumes over a third loss on the road, two caused by dying-minute strikes and another the outcome of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as Slot repeated on recently, but they cannot hide underlying concerns.

Last Season's Influence

Salah was crucial in pushing Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th crown the previous term while speculation over his career lingered in the background. We achieved almost the maximum out of Mo last term,” said Slot when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. There has been a noticeable decline on an personal and collective level since. The squad, not the details of a contract, are responsible.

Statistical Drop

His contribution in terms of goals and setups is down half on the same stage the previous term, from a combined 8 in the initial seven matches of last season to four (a pair of goals and two assists) this season. His tally of attempts has fallen from twenty-two to 12 while shots on target have fallen from 15 to 5, contributing to a significant decline in shooting accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, figures show.

A single trait that has stayed stable is his creativity. With twelve opportunities made, versus fourteen at the equivalent point of the previous season, his figures are among the top in Europe and comparable in the group of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and 13 years each.

Collective Performance

Measures of team performance will concern Slot further. Salah had 76 contacts in the enemy penalty area in the first seven matches of the previous term. This season's total is thirty-nine. These figures are reflective of the team's problems in general. Just Manchester United and Arsenal have attempted a greater number of attempts on goal than Liverpool in the current term, but Liverpool's proportion of attempts from within the goal area is the smallest in the division, their percentage from long range among the highest. Liverpool's proportion of efforts on goal – 28.4 percent – is as well among the weakest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we primarily found the net from a special moment from one of our front three and in the second half it was more from a set piece,” Slot said. “This season we have not seen as numerous moments of genius and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the side that from open play produces the most quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They aren't beating opponents in the way the coach planned when Wirtz, the French forward and Alexander Isak were brought on board in the offseason, though Liverpool remain the league's equal third-top goalscorers. A draw on Sunday would be enough for Slot to achieve the 100-point mark in fewer games than any coach in Liverpool's history (forty-six). Imagine what his offense will do when it does settle. The side are still a team of exceptional individual quality, capable of igniting and catching any rival for the title, but unity is missing. That cannot be attributed on the summer recruits only.

Individual and Team Challenges

The player is not the only key member to experience a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to match sharpness and the defender laboring. But he ends up at the core of the turmoil that has of late affected the club. This goes to a personal level, with Salah's grief over the loss of Diogo Jota evident on that heartfelt first game against the Cherries. The effect of his death can not be assessed nor dismissed.

Tactical Changes

Previously, he