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It's been some time, but the Egyptian star was back assuming the starring role last week with a double in Morocco that sealed Egypt's spot at the global tournament. The star stepping on the spotlight yet again. Liverpool must have him to remain there.

Factors for Variable Performances

There exist numerous causes why inconsistent, unimpressive showings have been the common thread running through Liverpool's beginning to their championship defense, whether they recorded seven straight victories or, prior to Manchester United's visit to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The disruption from multiple summer changes, the coach's hunt for his best XI, Diogo Jota's passing; the winger has endured the impact of them all during his unusually quiet beginning to the season.

Sunday's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's showpiece occasion could provide the spark for the cause of a impressive 16 scores in 17 games for Liverpool against United, who are making their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not won at their archrivals for over nine years. The attacker will pose Slot with an additional surprise issue, however, if he continue lost in the turmoil indefinitely.

Recent Form

The team's manager must have recognized the paradox of Salah's opening strike against Djibouti in midweek. Struck first time with the exterior of his left foot inside the close post, Salah's eighth strike of Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign came from an very similar location to his big mistake versus Chelsea prior to the international break.

Had that attempt been scored shortly after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would still be celebrating Florian Wirtz's first superb setup in the English top flight. Discussions into Salah's dip and Liverpool's infrequent losing streak might also have been delayed. Instead, Wirtz's wait persists while Slot fumes over a third away defeat, two caused by dying-minute strikes and another the outcome of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as Slot reiterated on Friday, but they do not mask bigger issues.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

The forward was instrumental in pushing Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th championship the prior campaign while speculation over his long-term plans rumbled in the background. We extracted almost the maximum out of Salah that campaign,” said the manager when his leading striker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. We have seen a obvious decline on an individual and collective level from then. The lineup, not the details of a contract, are to blame.

Statistical Drop

His production in terms of scores and assists is reduced half on the same stage the previous term, from a total 8 in the first seven fixtures of 2024-25 to 4 (two goals and two assists) this season. The count of attempts has decreased from 22 to 12 while shots on target have fallen from fifteen to five, leading to a sharp fall in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, data show.

A particular skill that has remained consistent is Salah's creativity. With 12 opportunities made, against fourteen at the same stage of last campaign, his stats remain among the best in Europe and comparable in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his juniors by 15 and thirteen years each.

Collective Performance

Metrics of collective performance will concern Slot further. He had seventy-six touches in the opposition penalty area in the first seven matches of the previous term. This term's tally is 39. These figures are reflective of the team's problems as a whole. Just Manchester United and Arsenal have taken more attempts on goal than them this season, but the team's proportion of shots from within the six-yard area is the poorest in the division, their ratio from distance among the greatest. The club's percentage of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is also among the lowest in the competition.

“In the first half of the previous campaign we mainly found the net from a moment of magic from an attacker and in the later stage it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Currently we haven’t had as numerous sparks of quality and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are still the side that from open play creates the most expected goals opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not hurting opponents in the fashion the coach planned when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were acquired this summer, while Liverpool are the division's joint third-highest goalscorers. A tie on the weekend would be enough for Slot to attain the 100-point total in less games than any coach in the club's history (forty-six). Think what his offense will do when it finally gels. The side are still a squad of outstanding talent, capable of starting and catching any rival for the championship, but unity is missing. That can not be attributed on the recent arrivals by themselves.

Individual and Team Challenges

Salah is not the sole key player to experience a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to form and Ibrahima Konaté struggling. But he finds himself at the core of the disruption that has recently affected Liverpool. This goes to a individual level, with his sorrow over the death of Diogo Jota clear on that emotional season opener against the Cherries. The effect of Jota's loss can not be measured nor overlooked.

Strategic Adjustments

Last season, he