🔗 Share this article

It's been a period, but Liverpool's forward was back playing the lead part in recent days with two goals in Casablanca that confirmed Egypt's position at the upcoming World Cup. The star stepping on center stage once more. The Merseyside club must have him to stay there.

Factors for Unsteady Displays

There are many causes why unsteady, unimpressive performances have been the common thread characterizing the team's start to their championship defense, whether they produced seven wins in a row or, prior to the Red Devils' arrival to Anfield on Sunday, three losses in a row. The disruption from so many new signings, the coach's hunt for his best XI, the late forward's passing; the winger has experienced the consequences of them all during his unusually quiet opening to the term.

Sunday's Key Fixture

Sunday's big match could provide the spark for the cause of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are paying their centenary trip to Anfield and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for almost a decade. The attacker will present the manager with a further unexpected problem, however, if he continue lost in the turmoil for an extended period.

Current Display

Liverpool's head coach likely noticed the irony of the player's first goal against the opponent in midweek. Struck first time with the exterior of his left foot inside the front post, his eighth strike of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign was from an very similar location to his expensive error against Chelsea before the national team pause.

If that attempt been finished moments after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be praising the new signing's maiden sublime assist in the Premier League. Discussions into Salah's dip and the team's rare losing streak might also have been delayed. Rather, Wirtz's search goes on while Slot stews over a third consecutive defeat away, two caused by last-minute winners and one the result of a controversial spot-kick. Small margins, as he repeated on recently, but they do not camouflage larger problems.

Last Season's Contribution

The forward was key in propelling Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th crown the previous term while uncertainty over his career rumbled in the background. We achieved almost the maximum out of Mo this season,” said Slot when his main attacker signed an extension in the spring. There has been a clear drop-off on an personal and team level from then. The squad, not the details of a deal, are responsible.

Statistical Drop

The 33-year-old's production in terms of goals and setups is reduced half on the same point last season, from a total eight in the initial seven league games of last season to 4 (two goals and a couple of assists) this season. His number of attempts has fallen from 22 to 12 while accurate shots have declined from fifteen to five, contributing to a significant decline in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6 percent, data show.

A single trait that has remained consistent is Salah's chance creation. With twelve chances created, versus 14 at the comparable period of last campaign, his numbers are among the best in Europe and comparable in the company of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Output

Indicators of collective display will worry the coach more. Salah had seventy-six contacts in the enemy box in the first seven matches of last season. This term's tally is thirty-nine. The numbers are indicative of the team's problems as a whole. Just Manchester United and the Gunners have taken more attempts on goal than them in the current term, but Liverpool's percentage of attempts from inside the six-yard box is the lowest in the division, their ratio from long range among the top. Liverpool's rate of accurate shots – 28.4% – is as well among the lowest in the league.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we mainly scored from an individual brilliance from one of our front three and in the second half it was more from a set piece,” Slot said. “Currently we lack as numerous acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the team that from general play produces the most quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting opponents in the way Slot planned when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were acquired in the offseason, although the team stay the league's joint third-highest goalscorers. A tie on the weekend would be enough for him to achieve the 100-point mark in fewer games than any manager in the club's past (forty-six). Think what his attack will do when it finally gels. The side remain a squad of supreme talent, equipped to starting and reeling in any foe for the championship, but cohesion is missing. That cannot be attributed on the new signings by themselves.

Individual and Collective Issues

Salah is not the only senior member to suffer a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to fitness and Ibrahima Konaté toiling. But he is at the core of the upheaval that has of late enveloped Liverpool. This applies to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the passing of Jota clear on that emotional season opener against the Cherries. The influence of his tragedy can not be assessed nor ignored.

Tactical Adjustments

Previously, he