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It's been some time, but the Egyptian star returned assuming the main part in recent days with a brace in Casablanca that confirmed Egypt's spot at the 2026 World Cup. The main man stepping on the limelight once more. The Merseyside club need him to remain there.

Causes for Unsteady Performances

There exist numerous causes why inconsistent, unimpressive showings have been the recurring theme characterizing the team's start to their league defense, whether they produced seven straight victories or, prior to Manchester United's visit to Anfield on Sunday, a losing run. The disruption from so many summer changes, Arne Slot's quest for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's loss; the winger has experienced the impact of them all during his uncharacteristically subdued opening to the season.

Sunday's Big Match

The weekend's showpiece occasion could deliver the spark for the origin of a record 16 strikes in 17 outings for the club against Manchester United, who are paying their 100th visit to Anfield and have not triumphed at their archrivals for over nine years. The attacker will present the manager with a further unexpected problem, yet, should he stay lost in the turmoil for an extended period.

Current Form

The team's boss likely noticed the paradox of the player's initial score against Djibouti last Wednesday. Swept first time with the exterior of his left foot inside the front post, his eighth goal of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign came from an almost identical position to his costly miss against Chelsea before the break for internationals.

If that right-foot effort been finished shortly after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would still be eulogising the new signing's first superb assist in the Premier League. Inquests into his drop and the team's unusual losing streak might also have been postponed. Instead, Wirtz's search continues while the coach broods over a third defeat away, a couple due to last-minute winners and one the result of a disputed penalty. Fine lines, as he reiterated on recently, but they do not mask larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Influence

The forward was crucial in propelling the side towards a record-equalling 20th league title the previous term while uncertainty over his long-term plans rumbled in the background. “We brought almost the maximum out of Mo that campaign,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a fresh deal in April. We have seen a noticeable decline on an personal and team level from then. The lineup, not the details of a contract, are responsible.

Performance Decline

His contribution in terms of goals and setups is down half on the corresponding stage the prior campaign, from a combined eight in the first seven matches of last season to 4 (a pair of goals and two assists) this season. The count of shots has decreased from twenty-two to 12 while accurate shots have declined from fifteen to five, leading to a significant fall in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, statistics show.

A single trait that has remained consistent is his playmaking. With twelve chances created, compared with fourteen at the same stage of the previous season, his figures stay among the finest in the continent and comparable in the group of young talents and Arda Güler, his younger counterparts by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Team Performance

Measures of collective output will concern the coach additionally. He had seventy-six contacts in the enemy penalty area in the first seven matches of the prior campaign. The current campaign's count is thirty-nine. These figures are symptomatic of the squad's issues overall. Just United and Arsenal have attempted more shots on goal than them this season, but Liverpool's proportion of shots from inside the six-yard box is the lowest in the Premier League, their ratio from distance among the top. Liverpool's percentage of accurate shots – 28.4% – is also among the weakest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we mainly found the net from an individual brilliance from an attacker and in the later stage it was more from a set piece,” Slot said. “This season we lack as numerous acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the side that from general play creates the highest quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting opponents in the way Slot imagined when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board recently, though Liverpool are the league's joint third-highest scorers. A draw on Sunday would be enough for Slot to attain the 100-point total in less games than any coach in the club's history (46). Consider what his offense will do when it does settle. Liverpool remain a squad of outstanding skill, capable of sparking and catching any foe for the title, but cohesion is lacking. That cannot be attributed on the recent arrivals by themselves.

Personal and Collective Challenges

Salah is not the sole senior member to experience a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to form and the defender struggling. But he is at the center of the disruption that has lately enveloped the club. That extends to a individual level, with his sorrow over the passing of Jota obvious on that poignant first game against Bournemouth. The impact of his tragedy can not be quantified nor dismissed.

Tactical Changes

Last season, he