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It's been some time, but Mohamed Salah returned assuming the main part last week with two goals in Casablanca that secured Egypt's place at the 2026 World Cup. The key player claiming the limelight once more. The Reds must have him to stay there.

Reasons for Inconsistent Showings

We see numerous reasons why inconsistent, lackluster displays have been the recurring theme running through Liverpool's start to their title defence, whether they achieved a winning streak or, prior to the Red Devils' visit to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, a losing run. The disruption from numerous summer changes, Arne Slot's quest for his ideal lineup, the late forward's loss; the winger has endured the consequences of them all during his unusually subdued beginning to the season.

Sunday's Big Match

Sunday's key fixture could deliver the catalyst for the source of a impressive 16 goals in 17 games for the club against United, who are paying their centenary trip to the stadium and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for more than nine years. Salah will pose the manager with another surprise issue, yet, should he stay caught in the upheaval indefinitely.

Recent Display

The team's head coach must have noticed the contrast of Salah's first goal against Djibouti last Wednesday. Struck directly with the exterior of his left foot into the close post, his eighth goal of Egypt's qualifying effort was from an almost identical location to his big mistake against Chelsea before the international break.

If that shot with his right been finished shortly after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would even now be eulogising the new signing's first excellent pass in the league. Discussions into his drop and the team's rare losing streak might as well have been delayed. Instead, the midfielder's wait goes on while the coach stews over a third consecutive away defeat, a couple caused by last-minute winners and another the outcome of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as Slot reiterated on Friday, but they do not camouflage larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Impact

The forward was instrumental in pushing the side towards a historic 20th crown the prior campaign while speculation over his long-term plans rumbled in the background. We achieved almost the maximum out of Mo this season,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. We have seen a noticeable drop-off on an personal and team level since. The team, not the details of a contract, are responsible.

Performance Decrease

His production in terms of scores and assists is lower half on the corresponding point the previous term, from a total 8 in the initial seven league games of 2024-25 to 4 (two goals and a couple of assists) this season. His tally of attempts has dropped from 22 to twelve while efforts on goal have fallen from 15 to 5, leading to a significant decline in conversion rate (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

A single trait that has remained consistent is Salah's creativity. With twelve chances created, versus fourteen at the equivalent point of last term, his numbers remain among the best in the continent and comparable in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and 13 years each.

Team Output

Measures of team output will concern Slot further. Salah had 76 touches in the enemy penalty area in the first seven matches of the previous term. This term's total is 39. The stats are reflective of the team's issues in general. Just Manchester United and Arsenal have taken more shots on goal than them now, but Liverpool's proportion of shots from inside the goal area is the smallest in the top flight, their ratio from distance among the highest. Liverpool's rate of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is as well among the lowest in the competition.

During the initial phase of last season we primarily scored from a moment of magic from an attacker and in the second half it was mostly from a set piece,” Slot said. “Currently we have not seen as many acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are still the team that from open play generates the highest expected goals opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They are not hurting rivals in the manner the coach planned when Florian Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were brought on board in the offseason, though Liverpool stay the division's joint third-highest goalscorers. A tie on the weekend would be enough for him to reach the 100-point mark in fewer games than any boss in Liverpool's past (46). Consider what his attack will do when it finally gels. The side remain a team of supreme individual quality, capable of igniting and chasing any rival for the championship, but synergy is lacking. This can not be pinned on the summer recruits by themselves.

Individual and Team Challenges

Salah is not the sole senior member to suffer a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to fitness and the defender laboring. But he ends up at the center of the upheaval that has recently affected the club. This goes to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the passing of Diogo Jota evident on that poignant season opener against the Cherries. The influence of Jota's tragedy can neither be assessed nor overlooked.

Strategic Adjustments

Last season, he