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It's been some time, but Mohamed Salah reappeared taking on the starring role recently with two goals in Casablanca that secured Egypt's place at the upcoming World Cup. The main man claiming the spotlight yet again. The Reds need him to keep that position.

Factors for Unsteady Displays

There exist numerous causes why variable, lackluster performances have been the frequent pattern running through Liverpool's beginning to their title defence, whether they achieved seven wins in a row or, before the Red Devils' trip to Anfield on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from so many summer changes, Arne Slot's hunt for his top team, Diogo Jota's tragic death; the winger has experienced the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically low-key opening to the term.

Sunday's Big Match

The weekend's key fixture could deliver the catalyst for the source of a record 16 scores in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are paying their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not won at their fierce rivals for more than nine years. Salah will pose Slot with a further unforeseen dilemma, however, should he stay caught in the turmoil much longer.

Recent Display

The team's manager likely noticed the paradox of Salah's opening strike against Djibouti in midweek. Struck directly with the exterior of his left foot inside the near post, his eighth score of the national team's qualification run originated from an nearly the same location to his costly miss versus Chelsea prior to the break for internationals.

Had that attempt been converted shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be celebrating the new signing's maiden excellent setup in the Premier League. Inquests into Salah's decline and Liverpool's unusual losing run might also have been delayed. Instead, the midfielder's search goes on while the coach fumes over a third consecutive defeat away, two caused by dying-minute strikes and one the outcome of a debatable penalty. Fine lines, as he reiterated on Friday, but they do not camouflage bigger issues.

Previous Campaign's Influence

Salah was crucial in propelling the side towards a historic 20th league title last season while uncertainty over his long-term plans persisted in the backdrop. We extracted almost the utmost out of Salah this season,” said Slot when his top scorer signed a fresh deal in April. There has been a clear decline on an personal and collective level from then. The team, not the terms of a contract, are responsible.

Performance Decrease

The 33-year-old's production in terms of goals and setups is down half on the corresponding stage the prior campaign, from a combined eight in the first seven league games of 2024-25 to 4 (two goals and a couple of assists) this season. His tally of attempts has fallen from twenty-two to twelve while accurate shots have dropped from fifteen to five, contributing to a significant fall in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, data show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is his chance creation. With 12 opportunities made, compared with 14 at the equivalent point of last campaign, his figures are among the best in Europe and comparable in the company of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Team Display

Metrics of collective output will trouble Slot further. Salah had 76 touches in the opposition box in the initial seven league games of the previous term. This season's total is 39. The numbers are indicative of the squad's difficulties as a whole. Only United and Arsenal have attempted more shots on goal than Liverpool now, but Liverpool's percentage of shots from inside the goal area is the lowest in the division, their share from outside the area among the greatest. The club's proportion of accurate shots – 28.4% – is also among the weakest in the competition.

“In the first half of last season we primarily found the net from a moment of magic from a forward and in the second half it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” the manager said. “Now we lack as numerous acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the team that from open play produces the highest quality opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not punishing rivals in the manner the coach envisaged when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were acquired this summer, though the team stay the division's equal third-top scorers. A tie on the weekend would be enough for him to achieve the 100-point total in less games than any coach in the club's history (forty-six). Imagine what his attack will do when it clicks. Liverpool remain a squad of exceptional skill, equipped to starting and reeling in any opponent for the championship, but synergy is absent. That can not be attributed on the recent arrivals only.

Personal and Team Problems

The player is not the sole senior player to suffer a dip, with the midfielder working his way back to fitness and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he ends up at the core of the upheaval that has recently engulfed the club. This applies to a personal level, with Salah's sorrow over the passing of Diogo Jota evident on that emotional season opener against Bournemouth. The impact of his death can not be assessed nor dismissed.

Tactical Adjustments

In the prior campaign, he