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It has been some time, but the Egyptian star reappeared taking on the lead part in recent days with a double in Casablanca that secured the Egyptian team's place at the global tournament. The key player claiming the limelight yet again. The Merseyside club must have him to stay there.

Factors for Inconsistent Showings

There are numerous reasons why variable, unconvincing performances have been the recurring theme defining the team's start to their championship defense, if they achieved seven wins in a row or, prior to Manchester United's visit to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from so many summer changes, Arne Slot's hunt for his best XI, Diogo Jota's loss; the winger has endured the effect of them all during his unusually quiet beginning to the season.

The Weekend's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's showpiece occasion could provide the spark for the source of a impressive 16 scores in 17 outings for the club against Manchester United, who are paying their 100th visit to Anfield and have not won at their fierce rivals for over nine years. Salah will present the manager with a further surprise issue, yet, should he continue lost in the disruption for an extended period.

Recent Performance

The team's head coach must have recognized the contrast of the player's opening strike against Djibouti in midweek. Struck first time with the outside of his stronger foot inside the front post, Salah's eighth goal of Egypt's qualification run came from an very similar location to his big mistake in the Chelsea match prior to the international break.

If that right-foot effort been scored shortly after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would still be eulogising Florian Wirtz's first excellent pass in the league. Discussions into Salah's dip and Liverpool's unusual defeat streak might as well have been delayed. Rather, the midfielder's search continues while the coach fumes over a third defeat away, two due to dying-minute strikes and one the outcome of a disputed penalty. Fine lines, as Slot emphasized on recently, but they do not mask bigger issues.

Last Season's Influence

The forward was instrumental in pushing the side towards a record-equalling 20th championship last season while speculation over his career lingered in the backdrop. We extracted almost the maximum out of Salah last term,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in April. We have seen a clear decline on an personal and collective level from then. The lineup, not the terms of a deal, are responsible.

Performance Decline

The 33-year-old's contribution in terms of scores and assists is down half on the corresponding stage last season, from a combined eight in the first seven fixtures of last season to 4 (two goals and two assists) this term. His tally of shots has dropped from twenty-two to 12 while efforts on goal have fallen from 15 to 5, contributing to a steep drop in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, figures show.

A particular skill that has remained consistent is Salah's creativity. With twelve opportunities made, versus 14 at the equivalent point of the previous season, his stats remain among the top in Europe and up in the ranks of young talents and Arda Güler, his juniors by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Collective Performance

Indicators of collective performance will concern the coach additionally. Salah had 76 contacts in the opposition penalty area in the first seven matches of last season. This season's count is thirty-nine. The numbers are symptomatic of the squad's issues in general. Only United and Arsenal have tried a greater number of shots on goal than them this season, but Liverpool's percentage of attempts from within the six-yard area is the lowest in the top flight, their share from distance among the greatest. The club's percentage of shots on target – 28.4% – is also among the weakest in the competition.

During the initial phase of last season we mainly scored from an individual brilliance from one of our front three and in the later stage it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Currently we haven’t had as numerous acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from live action generates the most xG chances.”

Summer Arrivals

They aren't beating foes in the manner Slot planned when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board recently, although Liverpool stay the league's joint third-highest goalscorers. A tie on Sunday would be enough for Slot to reach the 100-point mark in fewer games than any coach in Liverpool's past (forty-six). Think what his attack will do when it does settle. The side are still a team of exceptional skill, capable of igniting and reeling in any opponent for the title, but synergy is lacking. That cannot be attributed on the summer recruits only.

Individual and Team Challenges

Salah is not the only key player to experience a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to fitness and the defender struggling. But he ends up at the core of the upheaval that has recently enveloped Liverpool. This applies to a individual level, with his grief over the loss of Jota clear on that emotional season opener against Bournemouth. The effect of his death can not be assessed nor overlooked.

Strategic Changes

In the prior campaign, he