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It's been a while, but Liverpool's forward reappeared assuming the starring role last week with two goals in Morocco that confirmed the Egyptian team's spot at the 2026 World Cup. The star claiming center stage once more. The Merseyside club require him to stay there.

Reasons for Variable Performances

There are many factors why inconsistent, unimpressive displays have been the common thread defining Liverpool's opening to their championship defense, whether they achieved seven wins in a row or, before the Red Devils' trip to Anfield on the weekend, three losses in a row. The turmoil from so many offseason moves, Arne Slot's quest for his top team, the late forward's loss; the winger has endured the impact of them all during his unusually low-key beginning to the season.

Sunday's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's key fixture could offer the impetus for the source of a record 16 scores in 17 games for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are paying their centenary trip to Anfield and have not triumphed at their archrivals for almost a decade. Salah will pose Slot with another unexpected problem, yet, should he remain caught in the disruption indefinitely.

Latest Display

Liverpool's boss must have noticed the irony of the player's first goal against the opponent recently. Swept first time with the exterior of his left foot into the close post, his eighth score of the national team's qualifying effort originated from an nearly the same location to his expensive error in the Chelsea match prior to the international break.

If that attempt been finished moments after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would even now be praising the new signing's first sublime assist in the league. Discussions into his decline and Liverpool's infrequent defeat streak might also have been avoided. Rather, Wirtz's wait goes on while Slot fumes over a third loss on the road, a couple inflicted by late goals and another the outcome of a controversial spot-kick. Fine lines, as he reiterated on Friday, but they do not camouflage larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Impact

The forward was key in driving Liverpool towards a historic 20th championship the previous term while uncertainty over his long-term plans persisted in the backdrop. “We brought almost the best out of Salah last term,” said the manager when his leading striker signed a new two‑year contract in April. There has been a noticeable drop-off on an individual and team level since. The team, not the details of a contract, are responsible.

Performance Drop

His contribution in terms of scores and setups is down half on the same point last season, from a combined eight in the initial seven league games of 2024-25 to 4 (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this season. His tally of shots has dropped from twenty-two to twelve while shots on target have dropped from 15 to 5, causing a sharp drop in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, data show.

One attribute that has remained consistent is his playmaking. With 12 chances created, versus 14 at the equivalent point of last campaign, his figures are among the best in Europe and comparable in the ranks of young talents and Arda Güler, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Display

Metrics of team output will concern the coach further. Salah had seventy-six touches in the opposition box in the first seven matches of the prior campaign. This season's count is 39. The stats are indicative of the team's difficulties in general. Just Manchester United and Arsenal have attempted more attempts on goal than them now, but Liverpool's proportion of attempts from inside the goal area is the smallest in the division, their percentage from long range among the highest. Liverpool's percentage of accurate shots – 28.4% – is as well among the poorest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we primarily found the net from a moment of magic from one of our front three and in the later stage it was more from a set piece,” Slot said. “This season we have not seen as numerous acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are still the side that from open play produces the highest expected goals opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting rivals in the fashion Slot envisaged when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board recently, though Liverpool stay the division's third-best goalscorers. A tie on Sunday would be enough for Slot to attain the 100-point mark in less games than any boss in Liverpool's history (46). Think what his attack will do when it does settle. Liverpool are still a squad of outstanding skill, capable of sparking and reeling in any opponent for the championship, but cohesion is absent. That cannot be blamed on the new signings alone.

Individual and Team Issues

Salah is not the sole senior player to suffer a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to fitness and Ibrahima Konaté toiling. But he finds himself at the center of the disruption that has of late engulfed Liverpool. This extends to a individual level, with his grief over the loss of Diogo Jota evident on that poignant season opener against the Cherries. The impact of his death can not be measured nor dismissed.

Strategic Adjustments

In the prior campaign, he