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It's been some time, but the Egyptian star was back taking on the starring role last week with a double in Morocco that confirmed Egypt's place at the global tournament. The star taking center stage yet again. Liverpool need him to stay there.

Reasons for Inconsistent Displays

There are numerous reasons why unsteady, unconvincing displays have been the recurring theme running through the team's start to their title defence, whether they produced a winning streak or, before Manchester United's visit to Anfield on the weekend, a losing run. The disruption from so many new signings, Arne Slot's quest for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's passing; Salah has endured the impact of them all during his unusually subdued opening to the campaign.

Sunday's Key Fixture

The weekend's showpiece occasion could offer the impetus for the origin of a impressive 16 goals in 17 games for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their 100th appearance to the stadium and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for more than nine years. Salah will pose the manager with an additional unforeseen dilemma, though, should he continue lost in the turmoil for an extended period.

Recent Performance

Liverpool's head coach must have seen the irony of the player's initial score against the opponent recently. Swept first time with the exterior of his stronger foot inside the front post, Salah's eighth score of Egypt's qualifying effort originated from an nearly the same location to his big mistake in the Chelsea match before the national team pause.

Had that shot with his right been converted moments after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would even now be praising Florian Wirtz's first excellent pass in the league. Inquests into his drop and the team's rare losing run might also have been postponed. Rather, the midfielder's search persists while Slot broods over a third loss on the road, two caused by last-minute winners and one the result of a controversial spot-kick. Fine lines, as Slot reiterated on recently, but they do not mask larger problems.

Last Season's Contribution

Salah was crucial in propelling the side towards a historic 20th league title the previous term while doubt over his long-term plans persisted in the backdrop. We extracted nearly the best out of Mo last term,” said Slot when his leading striker signed an extension in the spring. We have seen a noticeable decline on an individual and collective level from then. The team, not the terms of a deal, are accountable.

Statistical Drop

The 33-year-old's output in terms of goals and assists is lower 50% on the same point last season, from a total eight in the first seven league games of last season to four (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this season. His number of attempts has decreased from twenty-two to twelve while accurate shots have declined from fifteen to 5, contributing to a significant drop in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, data show.

One attribute that has held more steady is his creativity. With twelve chances created, versus 14 at the comparable period of last term, his stats remain among the top in the continent and up in the ranks of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Display

Metrics of team display will trouble Slot more. Salah had 76 contacts in the enemy penalty area in the opening seven fixtures of the previous term. This season's count is thirty-nine. The numbers are symptomatic of the squad's problems as a whole. Only United and the Gunners have taken more shots on goal than them in the current term, but the team's percentage of attempts from inside the six-yard box is the poorest in the Premier League, their ratio from outside the area among the top. Liverpool's percentage of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is as well among the lowest in the competition.

“In the first half of last season we mostly found the net from a special moment from an attacker and in the later stage it was mostly from a set piece,” the manager said. “This season we have not seen as numerous moments of genius and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the team that from general play generates the highest quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting rivals in the fashion the coach envisaged when Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were brought on board in the offseason, although the team are the league's third-best scorers. A draw on Sunday would be sufficient for Slot to reach the 100-point mark in less games than any boss in the club's past (46). Think what his forward line will do when it clicks. The side remain a squad of exceptional individual quality, capable of starting and reeling in any rival for the championship, but synergy is lacking. That cannot be pinned on the recent arrivals by themselves.

Individual and Collective Problems

The player is not the sole established member to suffer a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister returning to form and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he is at the heart of the disruption that has of late enveloped the club. This extends to a individual level, with his sadness over the loss of Diogo Jota clear on that poignant season opener against Bournemouth. The influence of Jota's death can neither be quantified nor overlooked.

Tactical Adjustments

In the prior campaign, he