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It has been a while, but Liverpool's forward returned assuming the starring role last week with a brace in Casablanca that sealed Egypt's spot at the upcoming World Cup. The main man taking the spotlight yet again. Liverpool need him to keep that position.

Causes for Unsteady Showings

We see many reasons why unsteady, unconvincing showings have been the common thread defining the team's opening to their title defence, whether they recorded seven wins in a row or, before the Red Devils' arrival to Anfield on the weekend, three losses in a row. The upheaval from multiple summer changes, the coach's quest for his best XI, the late forward's tragic death; the winger has experienced the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically subdued start to the season.

Sunday's Big Match

The weekend's key fixture could offer the impetus for the source of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 appearances for Liverpool against United, who are making their 100th visit to Anfield and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for more than nine years. The attacker will present the manager with another unforeseen dilemma, however, if he stay lost in the disruption much longer.

Current Form

The team's boss likely seen the irony of Salah's opening strike against Djibouti last Wednesday. Swept immediately with the outside of his left foot into the front post, his eighth goal of the national team's qualification run was from an almost identical position to his expensive error versus Chelsea before the international break.

If that attempt been scored moments after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be eulogising the new signing's maiden superb setup in the league. Inquests into his drop and Liverpool's unusual defeat streak might as well have been delayed. Rather, the midfielder's wait persists while the coach fumes over a third consecutive away defeat, two due to dying-minute strikes and another the outcome of a debatable penalty. Small margins, as Slot repeated on Friday, but they do not camouflage bigger issues.

Last Season's Contribution

The forward was crucial in propelling the side towards a historic 20th championship the previous term while uncertainty over his future lingered in the backdrop. We extracted nearly the utmost out of Salah last term,” said the manager when his top scorer signed an extension in April. There has been a obvious decline on an individual and team level since. The squad, not the terms of a contract, are to blame.

Performance Decrease

His production in terms of goals and setups is lower 50% on the corresponding stage the previous term, from a total 8 in the first seven matches of last season to 4 (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this season. His number of shots has fallen from twenty-two to 12 while efforts on goal have declined from 15 to five, causing a steep drop in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6 percent, data show.

A single trait that has stayed stable is Salah's creativity. With 12 key passes, versus fourteen at the equivalent point of last campaign, his numbers stay among the best in Europe and comparable in the company of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Team Performance

Measures of team output will worry the coach further. Salah had 76 touches in the enemy penalty area in the first seven fixtures of last season. This season's tally is thirty-nine. The stats are reflective of the squad's issues in general. Just Manchester United and the Gunners have tried more shots on goal than them now, but the team's percentage of shots from within the six-yard area is the lowest in the top flight, their percentage from long range among the top. Liverpool's rate of shots on target – 28.4% – is also among the lowest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we primarily scored from a special moment from one of our front three and in the second half it was more from a set piece,” Slot said. “Now we lack as numerous moments of genius and we haven’t scored from dead balls. But we are still the side that from general play produces the highest quality opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not beating opponents in the manner the coach planned when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were signed in the offseason, while Liverpool stay the division's equal third-top scorers. A tie on Sunday would be sufficient for Slot to attain the 100-point mark in less games than any coach in Liverpool's past (46). Think what his offense will do when it clicks. Liverpool remain a team of exceptional individual quality, able to starting and chasing any foe for the championship, but unity is lacking. This can not be blamed on the new signings alone.

Personal and Collective Problems

Salah is not the only established player to suffer a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister returning to fitness and Ibrahima Konaté toiling. But he ends up at the heart of the disruption that has lately engulfed Liverpool. That goes to a personal level, with his grief over the death of Jota clear on that poignant first game against Bournemouth. The influence of his death can not be quantified nor overlooked.

Tactical Changes

Previously, he