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It has been some time, but the Egyptian star was back assuming the starring role in recent days with a brace in Morocco that secured Egypt's spot at the 2026 World Cup. The main man taking center stage another time. The Merseyside club must have him to stay there.

Factors for Variable Performances

There are many causes why variable, unimpressive performances have been the common thread defining the team's opening to their championship defense, whether they achieved seven wins in a row or, prior to the Red Devils' arrival to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from so many new signings, the coach's hunt for his best XI, Diogo Jota's passing; the winger has felt the consequences of them all during his atypically low-key start to the season.

The Weekend's Key Fixture

The weekend's showpiece occasion could offer the spark for the cause of a record 16 goals in 17 outings for Liverpool against United, who are making their 100th visit to Anfield and have not succeeded at their fierce rivals for more than nine years. Salah will pose the manager with another surprise issue, yet, should he stay caught in the disruption much longer.

Latest Performance

Liverpool's manager likely recognized the contrast of the player's initial score against the opponent last Wednesday. Struck directly with the exterior of his stronger foot inside the close post, his eighth strike of Egypt's qualifying effort was from an very similar location to his expensive error against Chelsea before the national team pause.

If that shot with his right been scored shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be celebrating the new signing's maiden sublime pass in the league. Analyses into his drop and Liverpool's unusual losing run might also have been delayed. Instead, the midfielder's search persists while the coach fumes over a third consecutive away defeat, two due to late goals and one the outcome of a debatable penalty. Small margins, as Slot emphasized on Friday, but they do not mask underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

The forward was instrumental in pushing Liverpool towards a historic 20th crown last season while doubt over his future lingered in the backdrop. We extracted almost the maximum out of Salah this season,” said Slot when his leading striker signed an extension in April. We have seen a clear drop-off on an personal and team level since. The lineup, not the details of a deal, are to blame.

Statistical Decrease

His production in terms of scores and assists is down 50% on the corresponding point last season, from a total 8 in the first seven matches of last season to four (two goals and a couple of assists) this term. The count of shots has fallen from twenty-two to twelve while shots on target have fallen from 15 to five, causing a steep drop in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, statistics show.

One attribute that has remained consistent is his creativity. With 12 key passes, versus fourteen at the equivalent point of last campaign, his stats remain among the finest in Europe and comparable in the company of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by fifteen and thirteen years respectively.

Team Output

Indicators of team display will concern the coach more. He had 76 contacts in the enemy penalty area in the opening seven matches of the previous term. This season's total is thirty-nine. These figures are symptomatic of the team's difficulties as a whole. Only United and the Gunners have attempted a greater number of shots on goal than them now, but the team's rate of attempts from inside the six-yard box is the lowest in the Premier League, their percentage from distance among the greatest. The club's proportion of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is also among the weakest in the league.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we mainly scored from a special moment from one of our front three and in the later stage it was mostly from a set piece,” Slot said. “Now we haven’t had as many acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from general play creates the highest expected goals opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They aren't hurting rivals in the manner the coach envisaged when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board recently, while Liverpool are the league's equal third-top goalscorers. A draw on Sunday would be sufficient for him to attain the 100-point total in fewer games than any boss in Liverpool's history (46). Consider what his attack will do when it does settle. The side remain a team of supreme talent, capable of starting and chasing any opponent for the title, but synergy is lacking. That can not be attributed on the recent arrivals only.

Individual and Collective Issues

Salah is not the only key player to suffer a drop-off, with the midfielder regaining to fitness and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he ends up at the core of the turmoil that has of late enveloped the club. That extends to a personal level, with Salah's sorrow over the death of Jota clear on that emotional season opener against the Cherries. The impact of Jota's tragedy can neither be quantified nor overlooked.

Tactical Adjustments

In the prior campaign, he