🔗 Share this article

It's been some time, but Liverpool's forward was back taking on the lead part in recent days with two goals in Morocco that secured Egypt's place at the global tournament. The star taking the spotlight yet again. The Merseyside club must have him to stay there.

Reasons for Unsteady Showings

We see numerous factors why variable, lackluster displays have been the frequent pattern characterizing Liverpool's opening to their championship defense, whether they produced seven straight victories or, prior to Manchester United's trip to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, a losing run. The upheaval from so many summer changes, Arne Slot's hunt for his ideal lineup, the late forward's tragic death; Salah has experienced the effect of them all during his atypically subdued opening to the term.

Sunday's Big Match

The weekend's key fixture could offer the spark for the source of a record 16 strikes in 17 games for the club against Manchester United, who are making their 100th visit to the stadium and have not succeeded at their archrivals for more than nine years. Salah will create Slot with another unexpected problem, yet, should he remain lost in the turmoil much longer.

Recent Form

Liverpool's head coach must have noticed the paradox of Salah's initial score against the opponent in midweek. Swept first time with the exterior of his stronger foot into the close post, his eighth strike of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign came from an almost identical position to his expensive error versus Chelsea before the international break.

Had that shot with his right been converted shortly after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would still be eulogising Florian Wirtz's first superb setup in the Premier League. Discussions into Salah's decline and the team's infrequent losing streak might as well have been delayed. Rather, Wirtz's wait persists while Slot broods over a third consecutive loss on the road, two inflicted by last-minute winners and another the outcome of a debatable penalty. Fine lines, as he reiterated on recently, but they do not camouflage larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Influence

The forward was key in propelling the side towards a record-equalling 20th crown last season while doubt over his future lingered in the backdrop. We extracted nearly the maximum out of Mo this season,” said Slot when his leading striker signed a fresh deal in April. We have seen a clear decrease on an individual and team level since. The squad, not the details of a deal, are accountable.

Statistical Decrease

The 33-year-old's production in terms of goals and setups is reduced half on the same stage the prior campaign, from a combined 8 in the opening seven league games of 2024-25 to 4 (two goals and two assists) the current campaign. His tally of attempts has dropped from twenty-two to 12 while shots on target have declined from fifteen to five, contributing to a steep fall in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

A particular skill that has remained consistent is Salah's creativity. With twelve key passes, against fourteen at the equivalent point of last campaign, his figures stay among the top in Europe and up in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Collective Performance

Metrics of team performance will worry Slot additionally. Salah had seventy-six touches in the opposition box in the opening seven fixtures of the prior campaign. This term's total is 39. These figures are reflective of the squad's issues in general. Only United and the Gunners have attempted more shots on goal than Liverpool now, but the team's percentage of shots from within the six-yard area is the smallest in the top flight, their share from outside the area among the top. The club's rate of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is also among the weakest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we mainly found the net from a special moment from an attacker and in the later stage it was more from a set piece,” Slot said. “Currently we haven’t had as many moments of genius and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are still the team that from general play produces the most quality opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They aren't hurting rivals in the way the coach planned when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were brought on board in the offseason, while the team remain the league's third-best goalscorers. A tie on Sunday would be enough for him to achieve the 100-point total in fewer games than any coach in Liverpool's past (forty-six). Consider what his forward line will do when it finally gels. The side remain a squad of exceptional talent, able to starting and catching any foe for the championship, but synergy is missing. That cannot be pinned on the new signings by themselves.

Personal and Collective Problems

The player is not the sole established player to experience a dip, with the midfielder returning to match sharpness and the defender laboring. But he ends up at the center of the turmoil that has lately engulfed Liverpool. This goes to a personal level, with Salah's sadness over the death of Jota obvious on that poignant first game against Bournemouth. The influence of his death can not be quantified nor overlooked.

Tactical Adjustments

Previously, he