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It's been a period, but Mohamed Salah was back playing the lead part in recent days with a brace in Morocco that confirmed the Egyptian team's position at the upcoming World Cup. The star stepping on the spotlight another time. The Reds need him to stay there.

Factors for Inconsistent Performances

We see numerous causes why inconsistent, unconvincing showings have been the recurring theme characterizing the team's start to their championship defense, if they recorded seven wins in a row or, prior to Manchester United's visit to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The disruption from multiple new signings, the coach's hunt for his best XI, Diogo Jota's loss; the winger has endured the impact of them all during his unusually subdued opening to the term.

Sunday's Key Fixture

Sunday's showpiece occasion could deliver the spark for the origin of a impressive 16 scores in 17 games for the club against Manchester United, who are making their 100th visit to Anfield and have not won at their archrivals for over nine years. The attacker will create the manager with a further surprise issue, however, if he continue lost in the disruption indefinitely.

Current Performance

Liverpool's head coach must have recognized the contrast of the player's initial score against Djibouti recently. Swept directly with the outside of his left foot into the near post, Salah's eighth strike of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign came from an nearly the same position to his big mistake in the Chelsea match prior to the international break.

Had that shot with his right been scored shortly after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would still be eulogising the new signing's first excellent assist in the English top flight. Inquests into his decline and Liverpool's rare defeat streak might as well have been avoided. Instead, the midfielder's search continues while Slot broods over a third loss on the road, a couple caused by last-minute winners and another the outcome of a controversial spot-kick. Narrow differences, as he repeated on Friday, but they cannot hide larger problems.

Last Season's Contribution

Salah was key in pushing the side towards a historic 20th championship last season while speculation over his career rumbled in the backdrop. “We brought almost the best out of Mo last term,” said Slot when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. We have seen a noticeable decrease on an individual and collective level from then. The lineup, not the details of a deal, are accountable.

Performance Decrease

His production in terms of scores and assists is down 50% on the corresponding point the previous term, from a total 8 in the initial seven league games of 2024-25 to four (two goals and two assists) this term. His tally of attempts has decreased from twenty-two to twelve while accurate shots have declined from fifteen to 5, causing a sharp fall in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, figures show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is Salah's playmaking. With twelve chances created, versus fourteen at the equivalent point of last term, his figures are among the top in the continent and comparable in the company of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Team Display

Indicators of collective display will concern the coach more. Salah had seventy-six contacts in the enemy box in the initial seven matches of last season. This term's count is thirty-nine. The stats are reflective of the squad's issues in general. Only United and the Gunners have taken a greater number of shots on goal than them now, but Liverpool's proportion of attempts from inside the six-yard box is the lowest in the top flight, their percentage from outside the area among the top. Liverpool's proportion of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is also among the weakest in the competition.

During the initial phase of last season we mostly found the net from an individual brilliance from one of our front three and in the second half it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” the manager said. “Currently we have not seen as many acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are still the team that from live action generates the most quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting opponents in the fashion Slot planned when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were signed in the offseason, though the team stay the division's joint third-highest goalscorers. A draw on the weekend would be sufficient for Slot to reach the 100-point mark in fewer games than any boss in Liverpool's history (46). Imagine what his attack will do when it finally gels. Liverpool are still a team of outstanding skill, able to sparking and reeling in any rival for the championship, but unity is lacking. That cannot be blamed on the recent arrivals only.

Individual and Team Problems

Salah is not the only senior member to suffer a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to fitness and the defender laboring. But he finds himself at the core of the disruption that has recently engulfed the club. This goes to a individual level, with his grief over the loss of Jota evident on that emotional first game against Bournemouth. The effect of his loss can not be assessed nor overlooked.

Strategic Adjustments

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