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It has been some time, but the Egyptian star returned taking on the lead part recently with a brace in Casablanca that secured Egypt's place at the global tournament. The key player claiming the limelight another time. The Merseyside club must have him to remain there.

Reasons for Inconsistent Performances

There are many factors why variable, lackluster performances have been the common thread characterizing the team's start to their title defence, if they achieved a winning streak or, prior to Manchester United's arrival to Anfield on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from so many offseason moves, the coach's quest for his best XI, the late forward's tragic death; the winger has experienced the consequences of them all during his uncharacteristically subdued start to the campaign.

The Weekend's Big Match

The weekend's showpiece occasion could deliver the impetus for the cause of a impressive 16 scores in 17 games for the club against Manchester United, who are making their 100th visit to Anfield and have not succeeded at their archrivals for over nine years. The attacker will present Slot with an additional surprise issue, though, should he remain lost in the disruption much longer.

Current Form

The team's head coach likely recognized the contrast of Salah's initial score against Djibouti last Wednesday. Struck first time with the outside of his left foot into the front post, Salah's eighth score of the national team's qualification run originated from an very similar spot to his big mistake versus Chelsea before the international break.

If that right-foot effort been converted shortly after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would still be praising the new signing's maiden excellent setup in the Premier League. Inquests into his dip and Liverpool's infrequent defeat streak might also have been avoided. Instead, the midfielder's search goes on while Slot stews over a third loss on the road, a couple due to late goals and one the result of a controversial spot-kick. Narrow differences, as he emphasized on Friday, but they cannot hide larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

Salah was instrumental in driving the side towards a historic 20th league title the prior campaign while doubt over his career persisted in the background. We achieved nearly the utmost out of Mo last term,” said Slot when his top scorer signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. We have seen a clear drop-off on an individual and collective level from then. The squad, not the details of a contract, are to blame.

Statistical Decrease

The 33-year-old's production in terms of scores and assists is reduced 50% on the same point the prior campaign, from a combined 8 in the initial seven league games of 2024-25 to 4 (a pair of goals and two assists) this term. His tally of attempts has decreased from 22 to 12 while shots on target have declined from 15 to 5, causing a significant drop in conversion rate (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, statistics show.

A single trait that has remained consistent is Salah's playmaking. With twelve opportunities made, against 14 at the same stage of last campaign, his figures stay among the top in Europe and comparable in the group of young talents and Arda Güler, his younger counterparts by fifteen and 13 years each.

Team Performance

Measures of collective performance will worry Slot more. He had 76 touches in the opposition penalty area in the opening seven league games of the prior campaign. The current campaign's total is 39. These figures are symptomatic of the team's difficulties overall. Just United and the Gunners have taken a greater number of attempts on goal than them now, but the team's proportion of attempts from within the six-yard box is the poorest in the top flight, their share from distance among the greatest. The club's proportion of shots on target – 28.4 percent – is also among the weakest in the competition.

During the initial phase of last season we mainly found the net from a special moment from an attacker and in the later stage it was more from a dead ball,” Slot said. “Currently we lack as many acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are still the side that from open play generates the highest xG chances.”

Summer Arrivals

They aren't hurting rivals in the fashion the coach planned when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were signed recently, although Liverpool are the league's equal third-top scorers. A tie on the weekend would be sufficient for Slot to achieve the 100-point mark in less games than any boss in the club's history (46). Imagine what his forward line will do when it clicks. Liverpool are still a squad of outstanding talent, able to sparking and reeling in any foe for the championship, but unity is lacking. This cannot be attributed on the new signings alone.

Personal and Team Problems

Salah is not the sole established player to suffer a drop-off, with the midfielder working his way back to fitness and the defender struggling. But he is at the heart of the disruption that has of late affected the club. That extends to a personal level, with his sorrow over the passing of Diogo Jota clear on that poignant opening night against Bournemouth. The influence of Jota's death can neither be measured nor dismissed.

Tactical Shifts

In the prior campaign, he