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It's been a while, but Mohamed Salah reappeared playing the main part recently with a double in Morocco that secured Egypt's spot at the global tournament. The star taking the limelight once more. The Reds must have him to keep that position.

Factors for Variable Displays

We see several reasons why variable, unconvincing performances have been the frequent pattern defining Liverpool's start to their league defense, whether they produced a winning streak or, prior to Manchester United's trip to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The turmoil from multiple summer changes, the coach's quest for his best XI, the late forward's tragic death; Salah has felt the impact of them all during his unusually low-key beginning to the season.

The Weekend's Big Match

Sunday's big match could deliver the catalyst for the source of a record 16 strikes in 17 appearances for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not won at their archrivals for more than nine years. Salah will present Slot with a further surprise issue, yet, if he remain lost in the upheaval indefinitely.

Recent Performance

The team's boss likely recognized the irony of the player's first goal against the opponent in midweek. Struck directly with the outside of his stronger foot inside the front post, Salah's eighth strike of Egypt's qualifying effort was from an almost identical spot to his big mistake in the Chelsea match before the break for internationals.

Had that attempt been scored shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would even now be eulogising Florian Wirtz's first superb assist in the Premier League. Analyses into his dip and Liverpool's rare losing run might as well have been postponed. Instead, Wirtz's wait continues while Slot fumes over a third away defeat, a couple caused by last-minute winners and one the outcome of a disputed penalty. Narrow differences, as Slot reiterated on Friday, but they do not camouflage underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

The forward was key in pushing Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th championship the previous term while speculation over his long-term plans rumbled in the backdrop. “We brought nearly the utmost out of Salah last term,” said Slot when his leading striker signed an extension in April. There has been a clear decrease on an individual and team level from then. The team, not the terms of a deal, are accountable.

Statistical Drop

His output in terms of scores and assists is down 50% on the same stage the previous term, from a total eight in the first seven matches of 2024-25 to 4 (two goals and a couple of assists) this term. The count of attempts has decreased from 22 to twelve while shots on target have fallen from 15 to 5, contributing to a steep decline in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, data show.

A particular skill that has stayed stable is Salah's playmaking. With 12 opportunities made, versus 14 at the equivalent point of last term, his numbers are among the best in Europe and up in the group of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by fifteen and thirteen years respectively.

Collective Output

Metrics of team output will worry the coach additionally. Salah had 76 contacts in the enemy box in the opening seven fixtures of the prior campaign. This season's tally is 39. The stats are indicative of the team's problems overall. Just Manchester United and the Gunners have taken more shots on goal than them in the current term, but the team's rate of shots from within the six-yard box is the smallest in the top flight, their ratio from outside the area among the highest. Liverpool's rate of accurate shots – 28.4% – is as well among the poorest in the competition.

“In the first half of the previous campaign we primarily scored from an individual brilliance from one of our front three and in the second half it was more from a dead ball,” Slot said. “Currently we haven’t had as numerous moments of genius and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are still the side that from live action generates the highest xG chances.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not hurting opponents in the manner the coach planned when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were brought on board recently, though Liverpool are the division's joint third-highest scorers. A tie on Sunday would be enough for Slot to reach the 100-point total in fewer games than any manager in the club's past (forty-six). Imagine what his forward line will do when it does settle. The side are still a team of exceptional skill, able to starting and reeling in any foe for the championship, but synergy is absent. This cannot be blamed on the new signings only.

Individual and Team Issues

Salah is not the only senior player to experience a drop-off, with the midfielder regaining to match sharpness and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he finds himself at the core of the disruption that has of late affected the club. That goes to a individual level, with his sorrow over the loss of Diogo Jota clear on that heartfelt season opener against the Cherries. The impact of his death can neither be measured nor ignored.

Strategic Changes

Previously, he