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It's been a period, but Liverpool's forward reappeared assuming the lead part last week with two goals in Casablanca that sealed the Egyptian team's position at the 2026 World Cup. The star stepping on the spotlight once more. Liverpool require him to keep that position.

Causes for Inconsistent Displays

There are numerous causes why unsteady, lackluster showings have been the common thread characterizing the team's start to their championship defense, whether they achieved a winning streak or, before Manchester United's visit to Anfield on Sunday, a losing run. The disruption from multiple offseason moves, the coach's quest for his ideal lineup, the late forward's loss; Salah has felt the effect of them all during his unusually low-key start to the season.

Sunday's Big Match

The weekend's big match could offer the catalyst for the cause of a record 16 strikes in 17 outings for the club against Manchester United, who are paying their centenary trip to the stadium and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for almost a decade. The attacker will pose the manager with another unexpected problem, yet, if he stay caught in the upheaval much longer.

Current Form

The team's boss likely recognized the contrast of Salah's initial score against Djibouti in midweek. Struck immediately with the exterior of his left foot inside the front post, his eighth score of the national team's qualifying effort was from an nearly the same position to his big mistake versus Chelsea before the national team pause.

Had that shot with his right been converted shortly after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would still be praising Florian Wirtz's first sublime setup in the English top flight. Analyses into his decline and the team's infrequent defeat streak might also have been postponed. Rather, Wirtz's search continues while the coach stews over a third consecutive away defeat, two inflicted by late goals and one the outcome of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as Slot repeated on recently, but they do not camouflage underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Impact

The forward was instrumental in propelling the side towards a record-equalling 20th league title the previous term while doubt over his future rumbled in the backdrop. “We brought almost the maximum out of Mo this season,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. We have seen a noticeable drop-off on an individual and collective level from then. The lineup, not the details of a contract, are accountable.

Performance Decrease

His contribution in terms of scores and assists is reduced half on the corresponding stage last season, from a combined eight in the first seven matches of 2024-25 to four (a pair of goals and two assists) the current campaign. His number of attempts has dropped from 22 to 12 while efforts on goal have fallen from fifteen to 5, causing a steep decline in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

A single trait that has remained consistent is Salah's creativity. With 12 opportunities made, compared with 14 at the equivalent point of the previous season, his stats are among the finest in the continent and comparable in the group of young talents and rising stars, his juniors by 15 and 13 years each.

Collective Performance

Measures of collective performance will concern Slot additionally. Salah had seventy-six touches in the enemy box in the opening seven matches of the previous term. The current campaign's total is 39. These figures are reflective of the squad's problems in general. Just United and Arsenal have taken more shots on goal than Liverpool now, but the team's percentage of shots from inside the six-yard area is the lowest in the top flight, their percentage from long range among the top. Liverpool's rate of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is as well among the poorest in the competition.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we primarily scored from a special moment from a forward 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 dead balls. But we are still the side that from live action produces the most xG chances.”

New Signings

They aren't punishing opponents in the fashion the coach envisaged when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were acquired this summer, though the team remain the division's joint third-highest goalscorers. A tie on the weekend would be sufficient for him to attain the 100-point mark in fewer games than any coach in the club's past (forty-six). Think what his attack will do when it does settle. Liverpool are still a squad of exceptional individual quality, equipped to sparking and catching any rival for the title, but synergy is lacking. This cannot be blamed on the new signings alone.

Personal and Team Issues

The player is not the only key player to experience a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to fitness and the defender laboring. But he ends up at the heart of the upheaval that has lately affected the club. This goes to a personal level, with his grief over the passing of Jota obvious on that heartfelt first game against the Cherries. The effect of Jota's loss can not be assessed nor overlooked.

Tactical Adjustments

Previously, he