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It has been a while, but Liverpool's forward returned playing the main part last week with a brace in Casablanca that confirmed Egypt's position at the 2026 World Cup. The key player claiming the spotlight another time. The Merseyside club must have him to remain there.

Reasons for Variable Displays

There are numerous reasons why inconsistent, unimpressive showings have been the recurring theme defining the team's beginning to their title defence, whether they achieved seven straight victories or, before Manchester United's visit to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The disruption from so many new signings, the coach's hunt for his ideal lineup, the late forward's loss; the winger has endured the effect of them all during his unusually quiet beginning to the campaign.

The Weekend's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's key fixture could provide the impetus for the origin of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 appearances for the club against United, who are paying their 100th visit to the stadium and have not triumphed at their archrivals for more than nine years. The attacker will present the manager with another unexpected problem, however, if he continue caught in the disruption indefinitely.

Recent Form

The team's head coach likely seen the paradox of the player's first goal against the opponent last Wednesday. Drilled directly with the outside of his stronger foot inside the front post, Salah's eighth strike of the national team's qualifying effort came from an very similar spot to his expensive error versus Chelsea before the break for internationals.

Had that attempt been converted shortly after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would still be eulogising Florian Wirtz's maiden superb assist in the league. Inquests into his decline and the team's infrequent losing run might also have been delayed. Rather, Wirtz's wait continues while the coach broods over a third consecutive loss on the road, two caused by late goals and another the outcome of a disputed penalty. Narrow differences, as he emphasized on recently, but they do not camouflage larger problems.

Last Season's Influence

The forward was instrumental in pushing the side towards a record-equalling 20th championship the prior campaign while uncertainty over his career lingered in the backdrop. We extracted almost the utmost out of Salah that campaign,” said Slot when his top scorer signed an extension in April. There has been a noticeable drop-off on an personal and team level from then. The team, not the terms of a contract, are accountable.

Statistical Drop

His output in terms of goals and setups is lower 50% on the corresponding point the previous term, from a total 8 in the initial seven league games of last season to 4 (a pair of goals and two assists) this season. The count of shots has dropped from 22 to twelve while accurate shots have declined from 15 to five, causing a sharp drop in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, figures show.

A particular skill that has stayed stable is his chance creation. With 12 key passes, compared with 14 at the same stage of last campaign, his figures remain among the finest in the continent and up in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his juniors by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Team Display

Indicators of team performance will trouble the coach additionally. Salah had seventy-six touches in the enemy penalty area in the first seven league games of the previous term. This season's tally is thirty-nine. The stats are reflective of the team's issues overall. Just United and the Gunners have attempted more shots on goal than them this season, but the team's rate of attempts from within the six-yard area is the smallest in the Premier League, their share from outside the area among the greatest. Liverpool's percentage of shots on target – 28.4% – is as well among the weakest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we mainly found the net from a special moment from an attacker and in the later stage it was mostly from a dead ball,” Slot said. “Currently we have not seen as many acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the team that from live action produces the highest quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting opponents in the way the coach imagined when Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were brought on board recently, while the team remain the league's equal third-top scorers. A draw on Sunday would be sufficient for Slot to achieve the 100-point total in less games than any boss in Liverpool's history (46). Think what his offense will do when it finally gels. Liverpool are still a team of outstanding individual quality, capable of sparking and chasing any foe for the title, but unity is absent. That can not be pinned on the recent arrivals only.

Individual and Team Issues

The player is not the sole key player to experience a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to form and the defender toiling. But he finds himself at the center of the turmoil that has lately engulfed Liverpool. That applies to a personal level, with his sorrow over the loss of Diogo Jota obvious on that emotional season opener against the Cherries. The impact of Jota's loss can not be quantified nor dismissed.

Strategic Changes

In the prior campaign, he