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It's been some time, but Mohamed Salah was back assuming the lead part in recent days with two goals in Morocco that sealed Egypt's place at the global tournament. The key player claiming the spotlight once more. The Reds must have him to remain there.

Causes for Unsteady Performances

We see numerous factors why variable, unimpressive showings have been the frequent pattern characterizing Liverpool's beginning to their championship defense, if they recorded seven straight victories or, prior to Manchester United's arrival to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, a losing run. The upheaval from multiple summer changes, the coach's hunt for his top team, the late forward's loss; Salah has felt the effect of them all during his unusually quiet start to the season.

The Weekend's Big Match

The weekend's showpiece occasion could offer the catalyst for the cause of a record 16 strikes in 17 games for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their 100th visit to Anfield and have not won at their biggest foes for over nine years. The attacker will create Slot with a further unexpected problem, though, if he continue lost in the upheaval indefinitely.

Latest Performance

The team's manager must have seen the contrast of the player's opening strike against the opponent last Wednesday. Swept immediately with the outside of his stronger foot into the near post, Salah's eighth goal of Egypt's qualifying effort came from an very similar spot to his big mistake versus Chelsea before the break for internationals.

Had that shot with his right been converted moments after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be celebrating the new signing's maiden superb assist in the league. Discussions into his decline and Liverpool's unusual losing run might as well have been avoided. Rather, the midfielder's search persists while Slot fumes over a third consecutive loss on the road, a couple due to late goals and one the outcome of a debatable penalty. Fine lines, as Slot emphasized on Friday, but they do not camouflage underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Influence

The forward was instrumental in propelling Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th crown the previous term while speculation over his future rumbled in the background. We achieved almost the maximum out of Mo this season,” said Slot when his main attacker signed a fresh deal in April. There has been a clear drop-off on an individual and team level from then. The team, not the terms of a contract, are accountable.

Statistical Decline

His production in terms of scores and setups is lower 50% on the corresponding point the prior campaign, from a total 8 in the opening seven fixtures of last season to 4 (two goals and two assists) this term. His number of shots has fallen from twenty-two to twelve while efforts on goal have fallen from fifteen to five, leading to a significant decline in shot accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, statistics show.

A single trait that has stayed stable is Salah's chance creation. With twelve chances created, compared with fourteen at the comparable period of the previous season, his numbers stay among the best in the continent and comparable in the group of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by fifteen and thirteen years respectively.

Team Performance

Metrics of team output will concern Slot more. He had seventy-six contacts in the opposition penalty area in the first seven fixtures of last season. The current campaign's count is thirty-nine. The numbers are indicative of the squad's problems in general. Just United and Arsenal have tried more shots on goal than them in the current term, but the team's proportion of attempts from within the six-yard area is the smallest in the top flight, their percentage from outside the area among the greatest. Liverpool's rate of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is also among the poorest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we mostly scored from a special moment from one of our front three and in the later stage it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “This season we have not seen as many moments of genius and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the side that from open play creates the most quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They aren't beating foes in the manner the coach planned when Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were brought on board in the offseason, though the team stay the league's joint third-highest scorers. A draw on the weekend would be enough for him to achieve the 100-point mark in fewer games than any coach in the club's history (forty-six). Think what his forward line will do when it clicks. Liverpool are still a squad of outstanding skill, capable of igniting and catching any opponent for the championship, but synergy is lacking. That can not be pinned on the new signings only.

Personal and Team Issues

The player is not the only established member to experience a dip, with the midfielder working his way back to match sharpness and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he ends up at the heart of the disruption that has of late affected the club. That extends to a individual level, with his sorrow over the loss of Diogo Jota obvious on that heartfelt first game against Bournemouth. The effect of Jota's death can neither be measured nor overlooked.

Strategic Changes

In the prior campaign, he