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It's been a while, but Mohamed Salah was back assuming the starring role recently with two goals in Morocco that secured the Egyptian team's place at the 2026 World Cup. The key player stepping on the spotlight yet again. Liverpool must have him to stay there.

Causes for Variable Showings

There exist several factors why variable, lackluster displays have been the recurring theme characterizing the team's opening to their league defense, if they achieved a winning streak or, prior to Manchester United's trip to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, a losing run. The disruption from so many new signings, the coach's hunt for his ideal lineup, the late forward's tragic death; Salah has experienced the effect of them all during his unusually quiet beginning to the term.

Sunday's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's big match could provide the catalyst for the source of a impressive 16 goals in 17 appearances for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their 100th visit to Anfield and have not triumphed at their biggest foes for almost a decade. The attacker will create the manager with an additional unforeseen dilemma, yet, should he continue caught in the turmoil for an extended period.

Recent Form

Liverpool's manager likely seen the contrast of Salah's first goal against the opponent in midweek. Swept first time with the outside of his left foot into the near post, Salah's eighth score of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign originated from an almost identical location to his expensive error against Chelsea prior to the national team pause.

If that attempt been scored moments after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would even now be celebrating Florian Wirtz's first sublime assist in the English top flight. Inquests into his dip and Liverpool's unusual losing streak might as well have been delayed. Instead, the midfielder's wait continues while the coach stews over a third consecutive loss on the road, a couple inflicted by late goals and another the outcome of a controversial spot-kick. Narrow differences, as Slot emphasized on recently, but they do not camouflage larger problems.

Last Season's Contribution

The forward was instrumental in driving Liverpool towards a tying 20th championship last season while doubt over his future rumbled in the backdrop. We extracted almost the maximum out of Mo this season,” said the manager when his top scorer signed a new two‑year contract in April. We have seen a clear drop-off on an individual and team level from then. The team, not the terms of a deal, are responsible.

Statistical Decline

His contribution in terms of scores and assists is lower 50% on the corresponding stage the prior campaign, from a total 8 in the opening seven fixtures of 2024-25 to 4 (two goals and two assists) this season. His tally of shots has fallen from 22 to 12 while efforts on goal have fallen from fifteen to 5, contributing to a sharp fall in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

One attribute that has held more steady is Salah's chance creation. With 12 key passes, against fourteen at the equivalent point of last campaign, his stats are among the finest in the continent and up in the company of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years each.

Collective Performance

Metrics of collective display will worry Slot additionally. He had seventy-six touches in the opposition penalty area in the initial seven league games of the previous term. This season's count is 39. These figures are indicative of the team's problems overall. Just Manchester United and the Gunners have taken more shots on goal than them now, but Liverpool's proportion of attempts from within the goal area is the smallest in the top flight, their share from distance among the highest. The club's proportion of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is also among the weakest in the competition.

“In the first half of the previous campaign we primarily found the net from a moment of magic from an attacker and in the second half it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Now we have not seen as numerous sparks of quality and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the side that from open play generates the most quality opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They are not punishing foes in the fashion the coach imagined when Florian Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were brought on board in the offseason, although the team are the league's joint third-highest goalscorers. A draw on Sunday would be sufficient for him to achieve the 100-point total in less games than any boss in Liverpool's history (forty-six). Think what his offense will do when it clicks. The side are still a team of supreme talent, able to igniting and catching any opponent for the championship, but synergy is lacking. This cannot be blamed on the recent arrivals by themselves.

Personal and Collective Issues

The player is not the sole senior member to suffer a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to form and the defender laboring. But he finds himself at the core of the upheaval that has lately enveloped Liverpool. This goes to a personal level, with Salah's sadness over the passing of Diogo Jota obvious on that heartfelt season opener against Bournemouth. The effect of his loss can not be quantified nor dismissed.

Strategic Shifts

Last season, he