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It's been a while, but the Egyptian star returned playing the main part recently with a double in Casablanca that confirmed the Egyptian team's position at the global tournament. The key player claiming the limelight yet again. Liverpool require him to keep that position.

Causes for Inconsistent Displays

We see several factors why inconsistent, lackluster displays have been the recurring theme characterizing the team's start to their league defense, if they recorded a winning streak or, before Manchester United's visit to Anfield on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The turmoil from so many new signings, the coach's hunt for his ideal lineup, the late forward's loss; the winger has endured the consequences of them all during his atypically subdued start to the season.

Sunday's Big Match

The weekend's big match could provide the impetus for the cause of a impressive 16 goals in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their 100th appearance to the stadium and have not succeeded at their archrivals for almost a decade. The attacker will pose the manager with an additional surprise issue, however, should he continue caught in the upheaval for an extended period.

Recent Performance

Liverpool's manager likely recognized the paradox of Salah's initial score against Djibouti recently. Struck directly with the exterior of his stronger foot into the near post, his eighth strike of Egypt's qualification run came from an almost identical spot to his big mistake in the Chelsea match prior to the national team pause.

Had that attempt been scored moments after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would even now be eulogising the new signing's first sublime assist in the English top flight. Analyses into his dip and Liverpool's unusual losing run might also have been avoided. Instead, Wirtz's wait persists while the coach stews over a third away defeat, two caused by dying-minute strikes and one the outcome of a debatable penalty. Small margins, as Slot emphasized on Friday, but they cannot hide larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

The forward was instrumental in propelling the side towards a historic 20th crown last season while speculation over his future rumbled in the backdrop. We achieved almost the best out of Mo that campaign,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. There has been a clear drop-off on an personal and collective level from then. The team, not the details of a deal, are responsible.

Performance Drop

His contribution in terms of scores and setups is lower 50% on the same point the previous term, from a combined eight in the opening seven fixtures of last season to 4 (two goals and a couple of assists) the current campaign. His tally of attempts has fallen from twenty-two to twelve while efforts on goal have dropped from 15 to five, causing a sharp drop in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

A single trait that has held more steady is his playmaking. With 12 key passes, versus 14 at the same stage of last term, his stats stay among the best in Europe and comparable in the company of young talents and Arda Güler, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Display

Indicators of team output will worry the coach more. Salah had seventy-six contacts in the opposition box in the initial seven matches of last season. This season's total is 39. The numbers are indicative of the team's difficulties overall. Just United and Arsenal have taken more shots on goal than them this season, but Liverpool's percentage of attempts from within the goal area is the poorest in the top flight, their share from long range among the highest. The club's percentage of efforts on goal – 28.4 percent – is as well among the weakest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we mostly found the net from a special moment from an attacker and in the later stage it was more from a free-kick or corner,” the manager said. “Currently we lack as many sparks of quality and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are still the side that from live action generates the most expected goals opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting foes in the fashion Slot envisaged when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were signed in the offseason, while Liverpool stay the division's third-best scorers. A draw on the weekend would be sufficient for him to attain the 100-point total in less games than any boss in the club's history (46). Think what his forward line will do when it finally gels. Liverpool are still a squad of exceptional talent, able to sparking and catching any opponent for the title, but cohesion is lacking. That can not be blamed on the summer recruits only.

Personal and Collective Issues

Salah is not the sole established member to suffer a decline, with the midfielder returning to fitness and the defender struggling. But he is at the center of the upheaval that has recently affected Liverpool. This extends to a personal level, with his sadness over the passing of Diogo Jota clear on that heartfelt season opener against the Cherries. The impact of Jota's tragedy can not be assessed nor overlooked.

Strategic Shifts

In the prior campaign, he