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It's been a period, but Liverpool's forward was back taking on the starring role last week with two goals in Morocco that confirmed the Egyptian team's spot at the 2026 World Cup. The key player taking center stage another time. The Merseyside club must have him to stay there.

Factors for Variable Displays

There exist many causes why variable, lackluster performances have been the common thread defining Liverpool's start to their championship defense, if they produced seven straight victories or, before Manchester United's arrival to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, three losses in a row. The upheaval from so many offseason moves, Arne Slot's quest for his ideal lineup, the late forward's passing; Salah has experienced the impact of them all during his unusually low-key opening to the campaign.

The Weekend's Key Fixture

The weekend's big match could provide the spark for the origin of a impressive 16 goals in 17 games for the club against United, who are making their 100th visit to the stadium and have not won at their archrivals for over nine years. Salah will create the manager with an additional unexpected problem, though, if he remain lost in the turmoil for an extended period.

Current Form

The team's boss must have recognized the irony of the player's opening strike against the opponent in midweek. Struck immediately with the exterior of his left foot into the close post, his eighth goal of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign originated from an very similar location to his expensive error versus Chelsea before the break for internationals.

If that right-foot effort been finished moments after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would still be eulogising the new signing's maiden sublime assist in the league. Discussions into Salah's decline and Liverpool's infrequent losing streak might also have been delayed. Instead, the midfielder's search continues while Slot stews over a third consecutive loss on the road, a couple inflicted by late goals and one the result of a controversial spot-kick. Small margins, as Slot emphasized on Friday, but they cannot hide larger problems.

Last Season's Impact

The forward was crucial in driving the side towards a record-equalling 20th crown last season while uncertainty over his future persisted in the background. “We brought almost the best out of Mo this season,” said Slot when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in April. We have seen a noticeable decrease on an personal and collective level since. The lineup, not the terms of a deal, are accountable.

Statistical Decline

The 33-year-old's production in terms of scores and assists is down 50% on the corresponding stage the previous term, from a combined 8 in the opening seven matches of 2024-25 to four (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this season. His number of attempts has dropped from twenty-two to 12 while shots on target have fallen from 15 to 5, leading to a sharp drop in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6 percent, figures show.

One attribute that has remained consistent is Salah's chance creation. With twelve chances created, versus 14 at the comparable period of the previous season, his numbers are among the best in the continent and up in the company of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his younger counterparts by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Team Output

Metrics of team display will trouble Slot further. Salah had seventy-six touches in the opposition box in the opening seven league games of the previous term. This term's total is 39. These figures are indicative of the squad's problems overall. Just United and the Gunners have taken more attempts on goal than them this season, but the team's proportion of attempts from within the six-yard area is the smallest in the division, their ratio from outside the area among the top. The club's percentage of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is as well among the weakest in the competition.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we primarily scored from an individual brilliance from an attacker and in the second half it was mostly from a set piece,” the manager said. “Currently we lack as many moments of genius and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the team that from open play creates the highest quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They aren't beating rivals in the fashion the coach planned when Florian Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were acquired in the offseason, although Liverpool stay the division's equal third-top scorers. A tie on Sunday would be enough for Slot to attain the 100-point mark in less games than any coach in Liverpool's history (46). Imagine what his offense will do when it does settle. The side remain a squad of outstanding individual quality, capable of igniting and chasing any opponent for the championship, but cohesion is missing. That can not be blamed on the summer recruits only.

Personal and Team Issues

Salah is not the sole established member to experience a drop-off, with the midfielder working his way back to form and the defender toiling. But he is at the core of the upheaval that has lately enveloped the club. That extends to a individual level, with his sadness over the death of Jota evident on that poignant season opener against Bournemouth. The influence of Jota's death can neither be assessed nor overlooked.

Tactical Changes

Last season, he