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It has been some time, but Mohamed Salah returned playing the starring role last week with a double in Morocco that secured the Egyptian team's place at the global tournament. The main man stepping on the spotlight once more. The Merseyside club must have him to remain there.

Factors for Inconsistent Showings

We see numerous factors why variable, lackluster displays have been the common thread characterizing Liverpool's opening to their title defence, whether they recorded seven wins in a row or, before the Red Devils' trip to Liverpool's home ground on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The disruption from numerous summer changes, Arne Slot's hunt for his top team, the late forward's tragic death; the winger has endured the effect of them all during his unusually low-key beginning to the term.

The Weekend's Key Fixture

Sunday's key fixture could provide the impetus for the source of a impressive 16 goals in 17 games for the club against United, who are paying their 100th visit to Anfield and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for more than nine years. The attacker will create Slot with an additional unforeseen dilemma, however, if he remain caught in the upheaval indefinitely.

Current Form

The team's boss likely noticed the irony of Salah's initial score against Djibouti in midweek. Swept directly with the exterior of his stronger foot into the close post, his eighth goal of Egypt's qualification run was from an almost identical location to his expensive error in the Chelsea match before the break for internationals.

Had that attempt been scored shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be praising the new signing's maiden superb pass in the league. Analyses into his drop and Liverpool's infrequent losing streak might also have been postponed. Rather, the midfielder's search continues while the coach stews over a third consecutive away defeat, two due to last-minute winners and one the result of a debatable penalty. Narrow differences, as Slot emphasized on Friday, but they do not mask larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

The forward was instrumental in propelling the side towards a record-equalling 20th championship the previous term while doubt over his long-term plans lingered in the background. “We brought almost the best out of Salah this season,” said the manager when his leading striker signed an extension in April. There has been a noticeable drop-off on an personal and team level since. The lineup, not the details of a deal, are to blame.

Performance Decline

His production in terms of goals and assists is lower half on the same stage the previous term, from a combined 8 in the first seven fixtures of last season to 4 (two goals and a couple of assists) this term. His tally of shots has fallen from twenty-two to 12 while efforts on goal have dropped from fifteen to five, contributing to a sharp fall in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6 percent, data show.

One attribute that has stayed stable is his playmaking. With 12 key passes, versus fourteen at the equivalent point of the previous season, his stats stay among the finest in Europe and up in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his juniors by 15 and thirteen years each.

Collective Display

Metrics of collective performance will concern Slot more. Salah had seventy-six touches in the opposition box in the initial seven fixtures of the prior campaign. This season's count is 39. These figures are reflective of the squad's issues in general. Just United and Arsenal have attempted more attempts on goal than them now, but the team's rate of attempts from inside the six-yard box is the poorest in the top flight, their percentage from distance among the highest. Liverpool's rate of shots on target – 28.4 percent – is also among the poorest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we primarily found the net from a special moment from a forward and in the second half it was more from a dead ball,” the manager said. “This season we lack as many acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from open play generates the most xG chances.”

New Signings

They are not hurting rivals in the fashion the coach envisaged when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were acquired in the offseason, although Liverpool are the division's third-best scorers. A tie on the weekend would be sufficient for Slot to achieve the 100-point total in fewer games than any coach in Liverpool's past (46). Think what his attack will do when it does settle. Liverpool remain a team of exceptional talent, able to sparking and catching any foe for the championship, but synergy is lacking. This can not be blamed on the recent arrivals only.

Personal and Team Challenges

Salah is not the only senior player to suffer a drop-off, with the midfielder returning to form and Ibrahima Konaté toiling. But he finds himself at the heart of the upheaval that has of late engulfed the club. That goes to a personal level, with Salah's sadness over the loss of Jota obvious on that emotional season opener against the Cherries. The influence of his tragedy can not be quantified nor dismissed.

Tactical Adjustments

Last season, he