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It's been some time, but Mohamed Salah was back taking on the main part in recent days with a double in Morocco that secured the Egyptian team's place at the upcoming World Cup. The key player stepping on the spotlight once more. Liverpool must have him to stay there.

Causes for Inconsistent Displays

We see several causes why variable, unimpressive showings have been the common thread running through Liverpool's opening to their title defence, if they recorded seven straight victories or, before Manchester United's arrival to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from multiple new signings, Arne Slot's search for his ideal lineup, the late forward's loss; the winger has felt the impact of them all during his uncharacteristically low-key beginning to the season.

The Weekend's Showpiece Occasion

The weekend's showpiece occasion could deliver the spark for the origin of a record 16 goals in 17 games for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their centenary trip to the stadium and have not won at their fierce rivals for more than nine years. Salah will create the manager with another surprise issue, yet, should he remain caught in the upheaval indefinitely.

Current Performance

The team's head coach likely seen the irony of the player's initial score against the opponent last Wednesday. Struck directly with the outside of his stronger foot into the close post, Salah's eighth goal of Egypt's qualification run was from an very similar location to his expensive error versus Chelsea prior to the break for internationals.

Had that attempt been scored moments after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would even now be eulogising the new signing's first superb assist in the league. Analyses into his decline and Liverpool's unusual defeat streak might as well have been delayed. Rather, Wirtz's search goes on while Slot broods over a third consecutive defeat away, two inflicted by late goals and one the result of a controversial spot-kick. Narrow differences, as he repeated on recently, but they do not camouflage underlying concerns.

Last Season's Influence

The forward was key in pushing Liverpool towards a tying 20th championship the previous term while doubt over his career persisted in the background. “We brought nearly the utmost out of Salah that campaign,” said the manager when his main attacker signed an extension in April. We have seen a noticeable drop-off on an personal and collective level since. The squad, not the terms of a deal, are to blame.

Statistical Decline

His output in terms of scores and assists is reduced half on the same stage the prior campaign, from a combined 8 in the first seven league games of 2024-25 to 4 (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) the current campaign. His number of attempts has decreased from twenty-two to twelve while shots on target have declined from fifteen to 5, contributing to a sharp drop in shooting accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is Salah's playmaking. With 12 opportunities made, versus fourteen at the comparable period of the previous season, his numbers remain among the top in Europe and up in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by 15 and thirteen years each.

Team Display

Metrics of team output will concern the coach further. Salah had 76 touches in the opposition penalty area in the initial seven fixtures of last season. The current campaign's tally is 39. The numbers are symptomatic of the squad's issues overall. Only Manchester United and the Gunners have attempted more shots on goal than Liverpool this season, but Liverpool's percentage of shots from within the goal area is the lowest in the Premier League, their ratio from long range among the highest. Liverpool's rate of shots on target – 28.4% – is also among the lowest in the league.

“In the first half of the previous campaign we mainly found the net from a moment of magic from a forward and in the later stage it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” the manager said. “This season we lack as numerous moments of genius and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the side 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 signed recently, though Liverpool remain the league's third-best scorers. A draw on the weekend would be sufficient for him to reach the 100-point mark in less games than any coach in Liverpool's past (46). Think what his offense will do when it finally gels. The side remain a squad of supreme skill, equipped to igniting and reeling in any opponent for the title, but synergy is lacking. This cannot be attributed on the summer recruits only.

Personal and Team Challenges

The player is not the only senior member to experience a drop-off, with the midfielder working his way back to form and the defender struggling. But he ends up at the core of the upheaval that has recently affected the club. This goes to a individual level, with Salah's sadness over the death of Diogo Jota evident on that emotional opening night against the Cherries. The impact of Jota's death can not be measured nor dismissed.

Tactical Changes

In the prior campaign, he