🔗 Share this article

It's been a period, but Liverpool's forward returned playing the lead part in recent days with two goals in Morocco that confirmed Egypt's position at the global tournament. The main man stepping on center stage yet again. Liverpool require him to keep that position.

Causes for Inconsistent Displays

There are many causes why inconsistent, lackluster performances have been the frequent pattern defining Liverpool's start to their title defence, whether they achieved a winning streak or, prior to Manchester United's trip to Anfield on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The disruption from so many new signings, Arne Slot's search for his top team, the late forward's loss; Salah has felt the consequences of them all during his unusually quiet opening to the season.

Sunday's Key Fixture

Sunday's big match could provide the impetus for the cause of a record 16 strikes in 17 outings for Liverpool against United, who are paying their centenary trip to the stadium and have not succeeded at their biggest foes for over nine years. The attacker will present Slot with a further unexpected problem, however, should he stay lost in the turmoil much longer.

Current Form

Liverpool's manager likely noticed the contrast of the player's opening strike against Djibouti recently. Struck immediately with the outside of his stronger foot inside the close post, his eighth goal of Egypt's qualifying effort was from an very similar spot to his costly miss in the Chelsea match before the international break.

If that shot with his right been finished moments after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would even now be praising Florian Wirtz's maiden sublime setup in the Premier League. Inquests into his decline and Liverpool's unusual defeat streak might as well have been delayed. Rather, the midfielder's search persists while the coach fumes over a third defeat away, a couple inflicted by late goals and one the result of a controversial spot-kick. Narrow differences, as he repeated on recently, but they cannot hide larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Impact

The forward was key in driving the side towards a record-equalling 20th league title the prior campaign while uncertainty over his future lingered in the background. We achieved nearly the best out of Salah that campaign,” said Slot when his leading striker signed a fresh deal in the spring. We have seen a noticeable decrease on an personal and team level from then. The squad, not the details of a deal, are accountable.

Performance Decline

His contribution in terms of scores and assists is lower half on the corresponding point the prior campaign, from a combined eight in the initial seven league games of 2024-25 to 4 (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this season. His number of attempts has fallen from 22 to twelve while shots on target have declined from fifteen to five, leading to a sharp fall in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, figures show.

A single trait that has held more steady is Salah's creativity. With twelve opportunities made, versus 14 at the same stage of the previous season, his stats remain among the finest in the continent and comparable in the ranks of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Collective Output

Metrics of collective output will trouble Slot further. He had seventy-six touches in the enemy box in the initial seven league games of the previous term. This term's count is thirty-nine. The stats are indicative of the squad's difficulties overall. Only United and Arsenal have tried a greater number of shots on goal than Liverpool now, but Liverpool's rate of shots from within the six-yard area is the poorest in the Premier League, their share from distance among the top. The club's rate of shots on target – 28.4% – is also among the lowest in the league.

“In the first half of last season we mainly scored from a moment of magic from one of our front three and in the second half it was mostly from a set piece,” Slot said. “This season we lack as many sparks of quality and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from general play produces the most expected goals opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not punishing foes in the manner Slot imagined when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were signed recently, although Liverpool stay the division's equal third-top goalscorers. A draw on Sunday would be sufficient for him to achieve the century of points in fewer games than any boss in the club's past (46). Think what his attack will do when it clicks. Liverpool remain a squad of supreme individual quality, equipped to sparking and catching any foe for the championship, but cohesion is lacking. That cannot be pinned on the summer recruits only.

Personal and Team Challenges

The player is not the only key player to suffer a dip, with the midfielder working his way back to match sharpness and Ibrahima Konaté toiling. But he finds himself at the center of the disruption that has recently affected Liverpool. This extends to a personal level, with Salah's sorrow over the passing of Jota clear on that emotional first game against the Cherries. The effect of his loss can not be measured nor dismissed.

Strategic Shifts

Last season, he