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It's been a while, but Mohamed Salah reappeared taking on the starring role in recent days with a double in Casablanca that secured the Egyptian team's position at the 2026 World Cup. The key player taking center stage once more. The Reds require him to keep that position.

Causes for Variable Performances

There exist several causes why unsteady, unconvincing showings have been the frequent pattern defining the team's start to their title defence, whether they achieved seven straight victories or, before the Red Devils' arrival to Anfield on the weekend, a losing run. The disruption from multiple offseason moves, Arne Slot's hunt for his best XI, the late forward's passing; Salah has experienced the consequences of them all during his unusually subdued start to the season.

The Weekend's Showpiece Occasion

The weekend's key fixture could provide the catalyst for the cause of a record 16 strikes in 17 appearances for the club against United, who are making their 100th visit to Anfield and have not triumphed at their fierce rivals for over nine years. Salah will pose Slot with another unexpected problem, though, if he continue caught in the turmoil for an extended period.

Latest Performance

Liverpool's head coach likely seen the paradox of the player's opening strike against Djibouti recently. Swept first time with the outside of his left foot into the front post, his eighth score of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign came from an nearly the same position to his costly miss versus Chelsea prior to the break for internationals.

Had that right-foot effort been converted shortly after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would even now be eulogising the new signing's first excellent setup in the league. Analyses into his decline and Liverpool's infrequent losing run might as well have been delayed. Rather, Wirtz's wait goes on while Slot stews over a third loss on the road, a couple inflicted by last-minute winners and one the result of a controversial spot-kick. Narrow differences, as he reiterated on Friday, but they do not mask bigger issues.

Last Season's Contribution

Salah was instrumental in propelling the side towards a historic 20th crown the prior campaign while speculation over his long-term plans lingered in the background. “We brought almost the utmost out of Salah last term,” said the manager when his top scorer signed a fresh deal in the spring. We have seen a obvious decline on an individual and team level since. The squad, not the terms of a deal, are responsible.

Statistical Drop

The 33-year-old's production in terms of scores and assists is lower half on the corresponding point the prior campaign, from a total 8 in the initial seven league games of last season to four (two goals and two assists) the current campaign. The count of attempts has decreased from twenty-two to twelve while accurate shots have fallen from 15 to five, leading to a significant drop in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, data show.

One attribute that has remained consistent is Salah's playmaking. With twelve chances created, versus 14 at the comparable period of last campaign, his figures are among the best in Europe and comparable in the company of young talents and Arda Güler, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Display

Indicators of team display will trouble the coach additionally. Salah had 76 contacts in the opposition penalty area in the initial seven league games of the prior campaign. This season's count is thirty-nine. These figures are reflective of the team's difficulties in general. Only United and the Gunners have attempted more attempts on goal than them now, but the team's proportion of shots from inside the six-yard box is the lowest in the top flight, their ratio from distance among the top. Liverpool's percentage of efforts on goal – 28.4 percent – is as well among the lowest in the league.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we primarily found the net from a special moment from one of our front three and in the later stage it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “This season we haven’t had as many acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are still the side that from open play generates the most xG chances.”

Recent Additions

They are not punishing opponents in the fashion Slot envisaged when Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were acquired this summer, while the team are the league's third-best goalscorers. A draw on Sunday would be enough for him to reach the century of points in less games than any coach in the club's past (46). Think what his offense will do when it finally gels. The side remain a squad of outstanding talent, equipped to igniting and catching any opponent for the title, but cohesion is missing. This cannot be pinned on the summer recruits alone.

Individual and Team Problems

The player is not the only key member to suffer a decline, with the midfielder working his way back to match sharpness and the defender struggling. But he ends up at the center of the turmoil that has lately affected the club. This goes to a personal level, with his grief over the loss of Jota obvious on that heartfelt first game against the Cherries. The influence of his death can not be measured nor ignored.

Tactical Changes

Last season, he