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It's been some time, but Mohamed Salah returned assuming the lead part in recent days with two goals in Casablanca that confirmed the Egyptian team's spot at the upcoming World Cup. The star stepping on the spotlight yet again. The Reds need him to remain there.

Factors for Variable Showings

There exist several causes why variable, lackluster showings have been the recurring theme characterizing Liverpool's start to their title defence, whether they achieved seven straight victories or, before Manchester United's trip to Anfield on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The turmoil from multiple new signings, Arne Slot's quest for his best XI, Diogo Jota's loss; the winger has endured the impact of them all during his atypically low-key beginning to the season.

Sunday's Key Fixture

Sunday's showpiece occasion could deliver the catalyst for the cause of a record 16 scores in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are paying their 100th appearance to the stadium and have not triumphed at their fierce rivals for more than nine years. Salah will present Slot with a further unforeseen dilemma, however, should he remain caught in the disruption for an extended period.

Current Performance

The team's manager likely seen the irony of Salah's first goal against Djibouti recently. Struck first time with the outside of his left foot into the close post, Salah's eighth strike of Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign originated from an nearly the same spot to his costly miss against Chelsea prior to the national team pause.

Had that attempt been scored moments after the resumption at Chelsea's ground we would still be praising Florian Wirtz's maiden excellent assist in the Premier League. Inquests into Salah's drop and the team's infrequent losing run might as well have been postponed. Rather, the midfielder's search continues while Slot broods over a third away defeat, a couple caused by dying-minute strikes and another the outcome of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as he reiterated on recently, but they cannot hide bigger issues.

Previous Campaign's Influence

The forward was crucial in driving the side towards a tying 20th crown the previous term while speculation over his long-term plans persisted in the backdrop. We extracted nearly the best out of Mo this season,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in the spring. We have seen a noticeable decline on an individual and team level since. The squad, not the details of a deal, are to blame.

Statistical Decline

The 33-year-old's production in terms of scores and assists is reduced 50% on the corresponding stage the prior campaign, from a total 8 in the initial seven matches of 2024-25 to four (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this term. His tally of shots has decreased from 22 to 12 while shots on target have fallen from fifteen to five, leading to a significant drop in shooting accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, data show.

A single trait that has stayed stable is his creativity. With twelve chances created, versus fourteen at the same stage of last campaign, his numbers stay among the best in Europe and up in the group of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Collective Output

Metrics of team output will worry the coach more. Salah had 76 touches in the enemy box in the opening seven league games of last season. This term's count is 39. The numbers are symptomatic of the squad's difficulties in general. Just Manchester United and the Gunners have taken more attempts on goal than them now, but Liverpool's rate of attempts from inside the six-yard box is the poorest in the Premier League, their percentage from long range among the greatest. Liverpool's rate of accurate shots – 28.4% – is as well among the weakest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we mostly scored from a moment of magic from one of our front three and in the second half it was mostly from a dead ball,” the manager said. “Now 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 open play generates the most expected goals opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not beating rivals in the way Slot envisaged when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board this summer, while Liverpool stay the league's equal third-top scorers. A tie on Sunday would be sufficient for Slot to attain the century of points in fewer games than any coach in the club's past (forty-six). Imagine what his offense will do when it finally gels. Liverpool remain a team of exceptional skill, capable of sparking and catching any foe for the championship, but cohesion is lacking. That can not be pinned on the new signings only.

Individual and Collective Problems

Salah is not the only key member to suffer a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to match sharpness and the defender laboring. But he finds himself at the heart of the disruption that has of late enveloped the club. That applies to a personal level, with Salah's sorrow over the death of Jota obvious on that heartfelt opening night against Bournemouth. The impact of Jota's tragedy can not be measured nor overlooked.

Tactical Shifts

Last season, he