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It has been a while, but the Egyptian star returned playing the lead part last week with a brace in Morocco that confirmed the Egyptian team's spot at the upcoming World Cup. The star claiming the limelight yet again. The Reds must have him to remain there.

Causes for Inconsistent Performances

We see numerous causes why inconsistent, unconvincing displays have been the common thread characterizing the team's start to their championship defense, whether they recorded seven straight victories or, prior to Manchester United's visit to Liverpool's home ground on the weekend, a losing run. The disruption from numerous new signings, Arne Slot's quest for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's loss; Salah has felt the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically quiet beginning to the campaign.

Sunday's Key Fixture

Sunday's big match could offer the catalyst for the origin of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are paying their centenary trip to Anfield and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for more than nine years. The attacker will create the manager with a further unforeseen dilemma, however, should he continue lost in the upheaval indefinitely.

Current Performance

Liverpool's head coach likely noticed the irony of the player's opening strike against the opponent last Wednesday. Struck directly with the outside of his left foot into the close post, Salah's eighth goal of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign was from an almost identical location to his big mistake in the Chelsea match before the national team pause.

If that attempt been scored moments after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would still be celebrating Florian Wirtz's maiden superb pass in the league. Analyses into his dip and the team's rare defeat streak might also have been delayed. Rather, the midfielder's wait continues while the coach fumes over a third defeat away, a couple due to late goals and another the outcome of a debatable penalty. Small margins, as Slot repeated on Friday, but they do not camouflage larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

The forward was crucial in propelling Liverpool towards a historic 20th crown the prior campaign while speculation over his future rumbled in the background. “We brought almost the maximum out of Salah this season,” said the manager when his top scorer signed a fresh deal in the spring. There has been a obvious drop-off on an individual and collective level from then. The team, not the terms of a contract, are accountable.

Performance Decrease

The 33-year-old's contribution in terms of scores and assists is reduced 50% on the corresponding stage the prior campaign, from a combined eight in the first seven league games of last season to four (two goals and a couple of assists) this season. His number of attempts has decreased from 22 to 12 while efforts on goal have declined from 15 to 5, causing a significant drop in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, data show.

One attribute that has held more steady is Salah's chance creation. With 12 key passes, against 14 at the comparable period of last term, his stats stay among the best in the continent and comparable in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Team Performance

Metrics of team display will worry Slot further. Salah had 76 touches in the enemy box in the initial seven league games of the previous term. The current campaign's count is thirty-nine. The stats are indicative of the squad's difficulties overall. Only United and Arsenal have tried a greater number of attempts on goal than them now, but Liverpool's rate of shots from within the goal area is the poorest in the division, their percentage from long range among the top. Liverpool's percentage of efforts on goal – 28.4 percent – is as well among the lowest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we mainly found the net from an individual brilliance from a forward and in the later stage it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” the manager said. “Now we lack as numerous moments of genius and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from live action generates the highest xG chances.”

New Signings

They aren't beating opponents in the manner Slot planned when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were acquired in the offseason, though Liverpool are the division's equal third-top goalscorers. A tie on Sunday would be sufficient for Slot to achieve the 100-point total in fewer games than any boss in Liverpool's history (forty-six). Imagine what his attack will do when it clicks. Liverpool remain a team of exceptional skill, able to starting and reeling in any opponent for the title, but synergy is lacking. That can not be blamed on the recent arrivals by themselves.

Individual and Collective Challenges

The player is not the only senior member to suffer a decline, with the midfielder working his way back to match sharpness and the defender toiling. But he is at the center of the upheaval that has of late enveloped the club. This applies to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the death of Diogo Jota obvious on that poignant opening night against the Cherries. The impact of his loss can not be quantified nor overlooked.

Strategic Changes

Last season, he