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It's been a while, but the Egyptian star was back taking on the starring role last week with a double in Morocco that secured Egypt's spot at the upcoming World Cup. The star stepping on the limelight once more. The Reds must have him to remain there.

Causes for Inconsistent Displays

We see many causes why variable, unimpressive showings have been the common thread running through Liverpool's beginning to their league defense, if they produced a winning streak or, prior to the Red Devils' visit to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, a losing run. The upheaval from so many summer changes, Arne Slot's hunt for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's passing; Salah has felt the consequences of them all during his unusually low-key start to the campaign.

Sunday's Big Match

Sunday's big match could deliver the impetus for the cause of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 outings for Liverpool against United, who are paying their centenary trip to the stadium and have not succeeded at their archrivals for over nine years. Salah will pose Slot with another unforeseen dilemma, though, should he stay lost in the disruption for an extended period.

Current Form

Liverpool's boss likely noticed the contrast of Salah's first goal against Djibouti last Wednesday. Struck first time with the outside of his stronger foot inside the front post, Salah's eighth goal of Egypt's qualification run originated from an nearly the same location to his big mistake in the Chelsea match prior to the international break.

If that shot with his right been scored shortly after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be celebrating the new signing's maiden excellent setup in the league. Inquests into his drop and the team's rare losing run might as well have been postponed. Instead, the midfielder's search goes on while the coach stews over a third consecutive away defeat, two caused by late goals and another the outcome of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as Slot emphasized on Friday, but they do not mask larger problems.

Last Season's Impact

Salah was instrumental in propelling Liverpool towards a tying 20th crown the previous term while doubt over his future lingered in the background. “We brought nearly the best out of Salah that campaign,” said Slot when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. There has been a obvious drop-off on an individual and team level since. The team, not the terms of a deal, are to blame.

Statistical Decrease

The 33-year-old's production in terms of goals and setups is lower half on the corresponding point the prior campaign, from a total 8 in the first seven matches of 2024-25 to 4 (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this season. His number of shots has dropped from 22 to twelve while accurate shots have dropped from fifteen to 5, causing a sharp drop in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, figures show.

A single trait that has remained consistent is his playmaking. With 12 chances created, compared with fourteen at the same stage of the previous season, his figures are among the best in Europe and comparable in the group of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and 13 years each.

Team Output

Measures of team output will concern the coach additionally. He had 76 touches in the opposition penalty area in the initial seven fixtures of the previous term. The current campaign's total is 39. These figures are indicative of the team's difficulties in general. Only United and Arsenal have tried more attempts on goal than Liverpool now, but the team's rate of shots from inside the six-yard box is the lowest in the Premier League, their percentage from long range among the greatest. The club's proportion of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is as well among the lowest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we mostly scored from an individual brilliance from an attacker and in the second half it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Currently we lack as numerous acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the side that from general play creates the most quality opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They aren't beating foes in the fashion Slot envisaged when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board recently, though Liverpool are the division's joint third-highest scorers. A tie on Sunday would be enough for Slot to attain the 100-point mark in fewer games than any boss in the club's history (46). Imagine what his attack will do when it finally gels. The side are still a squad of exceptional individual quality, able to sparking and chasing any opponent for the championship, but synergy is absent. That can not be pinned on the summer recruits alone.

Personal and Team Challenges

The player is not the sole key member to experience a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to fitness and Ibrahima Konaté toiling. But he finds himself at the center of the disruption that has lately enveloped the club. That applies to a individual level, with his grief over the loss of Diogo Jota clear on that heartfelt first game against Bournemouth. The impact of his tragedy can neither be quantified nor ignored.

Strategic Changes

Last season, he