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It has been a period, but Liverpool's forward was back playing the main part in recent days with two goals in Casablanca that sealed the Egyptian team's spot at the global tournament. The key player claiming center stage once more. Liverpool must have him to stay there.

Causes for Unsteady Performances

There exist several reasons why unsteady, unconvincing showings have been the recurring theme running through Liverpool's beginning to their championship defense, whether they recorded seven wins in a row or, prior to the Red Devils' visit to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The turmoil from so many summer changes, the coach's hunt for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's passing; the winger has endured the consequences of them all during his uncharacteristically quiet beginning to the season.

The Weekend's Key Fixture

Sunday's key fixture could offer the spark for the cause of a impressive 16 goals in 17 outings for Liverpool against United, who are paying their 100th visit to Anfield and have not won at their archrivals for almost a decade. Salah will pose Slot with an additional surprise issue, yet, should he stay lost in the turmoil much longer.

Recent Form

The team's manager likely seen the paradox of the player's opening strike against Djibouti in midweek. Struck directly with the outside of his left foot inside the near post, his eighth strike of Egypt's qualifying effort originated from an nearly the same location to his big mistake in the Chelsea match prior to the national team pause.

If that attempt been scored moments after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be praising the new signing's maiden superb assist in the league. Analyses into his drop and the team's rare losing streak might also have been postponed. Instead, Wirtz's wait goes on while Slot fumes over a third loss on the road, two inflicted by last-minute winners and one the outcome of a disputed penalty. Fine lines, as he reiterated on Friday, but they do not mask underlying concerns.

Last Season's Influence

Salah was instrumental in propelling the side towards a historic 20th league title the prior campaign while speculation over his long-term plans rumbled in the backdrop. “We brought nearly the maximum out of Mo this season,” said the manager when his leading striker signed an extension in April. There has been a obvious drop-off on an individual and team level from then. The lineup, not the details of a deal, are to blame.

Statistical Drop

His output in terms of scores and assists is lower half on the corresponding point the previous term, from a total 8 in the opening seven league games of last season to four (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this term. His tally of attempts has fallen from 22 to twelve while efforts on goal have declined from 15 to 5, contributing to a steep decline in shot accuracy (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, figures show.

One attribute that has stayed stable is Salah's playmaking. With twelve chances created, versus 14 at the same stage of the previous season, his numbers remain among the best in the continent and up in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and thirteen years respectively.

Collective Display

Measures of team performance will concern the coach further. He had 76 touches in the opposition box in the opening seven league games of last season. This term's tally is thirty-nine. The stats are indicative of the squad's problems as a whole. Just Manchester United and the Gunners have taken a greater number of shots on goal than them in the current term, but Liverpool's percentage of shots from within the six-yard box is the lowest in the Premier League, their ratio from distance among the top. The club's percentage of shots on target – 28.4% – is also among the weakest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we mostly found the net from an individual brilliance from an attacker and in the second half it was more from a set piece,” Slot said. “Now we have not seen as numerous moments of genius and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the team that from live action creates the most quality opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They aren't punishing foes in the fashion Slot envisaged when Wirtz, the French forward and Alexander Isak were brought on board this summer, although Liverpool remain the division's third-best scorers. A draw on the weekend would be sufficient for Slot to attain the century of points in less games than any coach in the club's history (46). Think what his attack will do when it finally gels. The side remain a squad of supreme individual quality, capable of sparking and reeling in any foe for the title, but synergy is lacking. This cannot be blamed on the new signings alone.

Personal and Collective Issues

Salah is not the only key member to experience a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister returning to form and Ibrahima Konaté laboring. But he finds himself at the heart of the upheaval that has lately engulfed Liverpool. That extends to a personal level, with Salah's sorrow over the death of Jota obvious on that emotional opening night against the Cherries. The effect of Jota's tragedy can not be measured nor overlooked.

Tactical Changes

In the prior campaign, he