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It's been a while, but Liverpool's forward returned assuming the lead part last week with a brace in Casablanca that secured Egypt's place at the upcoming World Cup. The main man claiming the limelight another time. The Merseyside club require him to stay there.

Reasons for Inconsistent Showings

We see many causes why variable, unconvincing displays have been the recurring theme characterizing the team's start to their title defence, if they achieved a winning streak or, before Manchester United's visit to Liverpool's home ground on the weekend, a losing run. The upheaval from so many summer changes, Arne Slot's quest for his best XI, Diogo Jota's tragic death; the winger has experienced the impact of them all during his atypically subdued start to the term.

Sunday's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's key fixture could provide the catalyst for the cause of a impressive 16 scores in 17 appearances for the club against United, who are making their 100th appearance to the stadium and have not triumphed at their archrivals for almost a decade. The attacker will create the manager with another unexpected problem, though, if he continue lost in the turmoil for an extended period.

Current Form

Liverpool's manager must have seen the contrast of Salah's initial score against the opponent in midweek. Drilled first time with the outside of his stronger foot inside the close post, Salah's eighth strike of Egypt's qualification run was from an almost identical location to his costly miss versus Chelsea before the national team pause.

Had that attempt been finished shortly after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would even now be celebrating Florian Wirtz's maiden excellent assist in the English top flight. Discussions into Salah's decline and Liverpool's rare losing run might also have been postponed. Instead, Wirtz's search continues while the coach fumes over a third consecutive away defeat, two due to last-minute winners and one the result of a debatable penalty. Fine lines, as Slot emphasized on Friday, but they cannot hide underlying concerns.

Last Season's Contribution

The forward was key in pushing the side towards a tying 20th league title the previous term while speculation over his future lingered in the background. We achieved nearly the utmost out of Mo this season,” said the manager when his main attacker signed an extension in April. We have seen a clear decrease on an individual and team level from then. The lineup, not the details of a contract, are accountable.

Statistical Decrease

The 33-year-old's output in terms of goals and setups is reduced half on the corresponding stage the prior campaign, from a total 8 in the opening seven league games of 2024-25 to 4 (a pair of goals and two assists) the current campaign. His tally of shots has fallen from twenty-two to 12 while accurate shots have fallen from fifteen to 5, causing a steep drop in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

A single trait that has held more steady is Salah's creativity. With twelve key passes, against 14 at the comparable period of last term, his figures remain among the best in Europe and comparable in the company of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Collective Output

Indicators of collective display will trouble Slot more. He had 76 touches in the enemy box in the opening seven matches of last season. This season's total is 39. The numbers are reflective of the team's problems in general. Only United and Arsenal have tried a greater number of shots on goal than Liverpool in the current term, but the team's percentage of shots from inside the six-yard area is the poorest in the Premier League, their ratio from outside the area among the highest. The club'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 mainly found the net from an individual brilliance from one of our front three and in the later stage it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Currently we haven’t had as many moments of genius and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are still the team that from general play generates the most quality opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They are not beating opponents in the manner Slot envisaged when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were acquired this summer, while Liverpool stay the division's equal third-top scorers. A draw on Sunday would be sufficient for Slot to achieve the 100-point mark in fewer games than any boss in the club's history (forty-six). Consider what his forward line will do when it clicks. Liverpool remain a team of outstanding individual quality, equipped to sparking and catching any foe for the championship, but synergy is lacking. That cannot be pinned on the new signings only.

Personal and Team Challenges

Salah is not the only established player to suffer a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister returning to match sharpness and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he is at the core of the upheaval that has lately affected the club. That extends to a individual level, with Salah's grief over the passing of Diogo Jota clear on that poignant first game against the Cherries. The influence of his tragedy can neither be measured nor overlooked.

Tactical Changes

Previously, he