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It has been some time, but the Egyptian star was back assuming the main part recently with two goals in Casablanca that secured Egypt's position at the 2026 World Cup. The star claiming the limelight yet again. The Reds need him to keep that position.

Causes for Inconsistent Performances

We see numerous causes why unsteady, lackluster performances have been the recurring theme running through Liverpool's start to their championship defense, whether they produced seven straight victories or, prior to the Red Devils' visit to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, a losing run. The disruption from so many offseason moves, Arne Slot's search for his ideal lineup, the late forward's loss; Salah has felt the effect of them all during his unusually quiet opening to the campaign.

Sunday's Key Fixture

Sunday's key fixture could offer the catalyst for the source of a record 16 goals in 17 outings for the club against Manchester United, who are paying their 100th visit to the stadium and have not succeeded at their fierce rivals for almost a decade. The attacker will create the manager with another unforeseen dilemma, however, if he continue lost in the upheaval much longer.

Recent Performance

The team's head coach likely recognized the contrast of Salah's opening strike against the opponent in midweek. Drilled directly with the exterior of his left foot inside the close post, his eighth score of Egypt's qualifying effort was from an almost identical location to his big mistake in the Chelsea match before the international break.

Had that attempt been finished shortly after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would still be eulogising Florian Wirtz's maiden excellent pass in the English top flight. Discussions into his decline and Liverpool's infrequent losing streak might as well have been postponed. Instead, Wirtz's search goes on while Slot broods over a third loss on the road, a couple inflicted by last-minute winners and another the result of a controversial spot-kick. Narrow differences, as he reiterated on Friday, but they do not mask bigger issues.

Previous Campaign's Influence

The forward was crucial in propelling the side towards a record-equalling 20th championship the prior campaign while doubt over his career persisted in the background. We extracted almost the utmost out of Salah last term,” said the manager when his top scorer signed an extension in the spring. We have seen a noticeable drop-off on an individual and team level from then. The squad, not the details of a contract, are responsible.

Performance Drop

His output in terms of goals and setups is reduced 50% on the same stage the prior campaign, from a combined 8 in the first seven matches of 2024-25 to four (two goals and a couple of assists) the current campaign. His number of attempts has dropped from twenty-two to twelve while efforts on goal have fallen from fifteen to 5, causing a sharp decline in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, figures show.

A single trait that has remained consistent is Salah's chance creation. With 12 key passes, against 14 at the equivalent point of last term, his stats stay among the best in the continent and comparable in the group of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Team Output

Metrics of team output will concern the coach more. Salah had seventy-six contacts in the opposition penalty area in the opening seven fixtures of the prior campaign. This season's total is 39. The stats are reflective of the squad's issues in general. Just Manchester United and the Gunners have taken more attempts on goal than them now, but the team's rate of shots from inside the six-yard area is the poorest in the Premier League, their share from distance among the greatest. Liverpool's rate of accurate shots – 28.4% – is also among the lowest in the competition.

During the initial phase of last season we mostly scored from a special moment from an attacker and in the second half it was more from a dead ball,” Slot said. “Currently we lack as many acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the side that from open play creates the most quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They aren't hurting rivals in the fashion the coach planned when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board in the offseason, while Liverpool are the division's joint third-highest scorers. A draw on Sunday would be sufficient for him to achieve the 100-point mark in less games than any manager in Liverpool's past (46). Think what his offense will do when it clicks. Liverpool are still a squad of exceptional skill, equipped to sparking and reeling in any rival for the title, but cohesion is absent. This can not be pinned on the summer recruits by themselves.

Personal and Collective Challenges

The player is not the sole key member to experience a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister returning to form and Ibrahima Konaté struggling. But he ends up at the core of the turmoil that has of late enveloped the club. That goes to a individual level, with Salah's sadness over the death of Diogo Jota clear on that poignant opening night against the Cherries. The influence of his death can not be assessed nor ignored.

Strategic Changes

In the prior campaign, he