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It's been a while, but the Egyptian star reappeared taking on the main part last week with two goals in Casablanca that sealed the Egyptian team's position at the 2026 World Cup. The star claiming the limelight another time. Liverpool require him to keep that position.

Reasons for Unsteady Showings

There are several factors why variable, lackluster displays have been the common thread characterizing the team's opening to their title defence, whether they achieved a winning streak or, before the Red Devils' trip to Anfield on Sunday, three losses in a row. The turmoil from numerous summer changes, the coach's hunt for his top team, Diogo Jota's tragic death; Salah has endured the impact of them all during his unusually low-key start to the season.

Sunday's Key Fixture

The weekend's showpiece occasion could deliver the spark for the origin of a impressive 16 goals in 17 appearances for Liverpool against United, who are making their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not triumphed at their fierce rivals for over nine years. Salah will present the manager with a further unforeseen dilemma, though, should he continue caught in the disruption indefinitely.

Recent Performance

Liverpool's head coach must have recognized the contrast of Salah's first goal against Djibouti in midweek. Swept immediately with the exterior of his stronger foot into the near post, his eighth goal of Egypt's qualifying effort originated from an very similar location to his costly miss in the Chelsea match before the national team pause.

Had that shot with his right been finished shortly after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would even now be eulogising the new signing's maiden excellent setup in the league. Inquests into Salah's dip and Liverpool's unusual defeat streak might as well have been delayed. Instead, Wirtz's wait goes on while Slot broods over a third loss on the road, two inflicted by last-minute winners and another the outcome of a controversial spot-kick. Narrow differences, as he reiterated on recently, but they do not mask underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Impact

Salah was crucial in propelling Liverpool towards a tying 20th crown last season while doubt over his long-term plans persisted in the background. “We brought nearly the best out of Salah that campaign,” said the manager when his top scorer signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. There has been a noticeable decrease on an individual and collective level since. The team, not the terms of a deal, are to blame.

Performance Decline

His contribution in terms of goals and setups is lower half on the same point the prior campaign, from a total eight in the initial seven league games of last season to 4 (two goals and a couple of assists) the current campaign. His number of shots has dropped from twenty-two to twelve while efforts on goal have dropped from fifteen to five, contributing to a sharp drop in shooting accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, statistics show.

A particular skill that has remained consistent is Salah's playmaking. With 12 opportunities made, against 14 at the equivalent point of the previous season, his figures remain among the best in Europe and up in the group of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his juniors by 15 and 13 years each.

Team Performance

Indicators of team display will concern Slot further. Salah had seventy-six touches in the opposition penalty area in the opening seven fixtures of the previous term. This season's tally is thirty-nine. The stats are indicative of the squad's problems as a whole. Only Manchester United and Arsenal have attempted more shots on goal than Liverpool this season, but the team's percentage of shots from within the six-yard box is the poorest in the top flight, their ratio from long range among the top. Liverpool's rate of shots on target – 28.4 percent – is also among the poorest in the league.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we mostly scored from a moment of magic from one of our front three and in the second half it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Currently we lack as numerous acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are still the side that from live action produces the most quality opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not hurting rivals in the manner the coach imagined when Wirtz, the French forward and Alexander Isak were acquired recently, though Liverpool remain the division's joint third-highest goalscorers. A tie on Sunday would be enough for Slot to reach the 100-point mark in less games than any boss in Liverpool's history (46). Consider what his forward line will do when it does settle. The side remain a team of exceptional skill, able to starting and chasing any foe for the title, but unity is lacking. This can not be blamed on the summer recruits only.

Individual and Collective Issues

Salah is not the only established member to experience a dip, with the midfielder working his way back to form and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he is at the heart of the upheaval that has lately enveloped Liverpool. That extends to a individual level, with Salah's sadness over the death of Diogo Jota evident on that poignant opening night against Bournemouth. The impact of Jota's tragedy can neither be assessed nor overlooked.

Tactical Changes

In the prior campaign, he