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It's been some time, but Liverpool's forward was back assuming the starring role last week with two goals in Morocco that sealed Egypt's position at the global tournament. The star stepping on the spotlight another time. The Reds need him to remain there.

Reasons for Unsteady Displays

There are several reasons why inconsistent, unimpressive performances have been the frequent pattern defining Liverpool's opening to their league defense, whether they recorded a winning streak or, prior to Manchester United's arrival to Anfield on Sunday, three losses in a row. The turmoil from so many new signings, the coach's hunt for his best XI, the late forward's loss; Salah has felt the impact of them all during his uncharacteristically low-key opening to the term.

Sunday's Key Fixture

The weekend's showpiece occasion could provide the catalyst for the source of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are paying their 100th visit to the stadium and have not triumphed at their fierce rivals for almost a decade. Salah will present the manager with an additional unexpected problem, yet, should he continue caught in the upheaval much longer.

Latest Display

Liverpool's boss likely recognized the paradox of Salah's initial score against the opponent recently. Drilled immediately with the exterior of his left foot inside the front post, his eighth goal of the national team's qualifying effort originated from an nearly the same spot to his costly miss versus Chelsea prior to the national team pause.

Had that right-foot effort been scored moments after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be eulogising Florian Wirtz's maiden excellent assist in the Premier League. Inquests into Salah's dip and the team's unusual defeat streak might as well have been postponed. Instead, Wirtz's wait persists while the coach broods over a third defeat away, two inflicted by dying-minute strikes and another the result of a disputed penalty. Narrow differences, as Slot repeated on recently, but they cannot hide larger problems.

Last Season's Influence

Salah was key in propelling Liverpool towards a tying 20th league title last season while uncertainty over his future lingered in the backdrop. “We brought nearly the maximum out of Salah last term,” said the manager when his top scorer signed a new two‑year contract in April. We have seen a obvious decrease on an individual and team level from then. The lineup, not the terms of a deal, are accountable.

Performance Drop

The 33-year-old's contribution in terms of scores and setups is down 50% on the corresponding stage the prior campaign, from a combined eight in the initial seven fixtures of 2024-25 to four (two goals and two assists) the current campaign. His tally of attempts has dropped from 22 to 12 while efforts on goal have declined from fifteen to 5, causing a sharp decline in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, data show.

One attribute that has stayed stable is Salah's chance creation. With twelve key passes, versus 14 at the same stage of last term, his stats stay among the best in Europe and comparable in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by 15 and 13 years each.

Collective Performance

Indicators of collective output will trouble the coach further. Salah had seventy-six touches in the opposition box in the first seven matches of last season. This season's total is thirty-nine. These figures are indicative of the team's difficulties overall. Only Manchester United and the Gunners have attempted more shots on goal than Liverpool this season, but the team's proportion of shots from inside the six-yard box is the poorest in the top flight, their percentage from outside the area among the highest. Liverpool's rate of shots on target – 28.4 percent – is as well among the weakest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we primarily scored from a special moment from one of our front three and in the second half it was mostly from a set piece,” the manager said. “Currently we lack as numerous acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the side that from general play generates the highest quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They aren't punishing opponents in the manner Slot planned when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board this summer, although the team are the league's third-best scorers. A tie on the weekend would be sufficient for him to achieve the century of points in less games than any coach in Liverpool's past (forty-six). Imagine what his offense will do when it clicks. The side remain a team of outstanding individual quality, equipped to sparking and catching any foe for the title, but unity is missing. This cannot be pinned on the summer recruits by themselves.

Personal and Team Problems

The player is not the only key player to suffer a decline, with the midfielder returning to match sharpness and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he is at the center of the turmoil that has lately engulfed the club. This extends to a personal level, with his sadness over the passing of Diogo Jota clear on that emotional opening night against Bournemouth. The effect of his tragedy can not be assessed nor dismissed.

Tactical Changes

In the prior campaign, he