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It has been some time, but the Egyptian star was back playing the lead part last week with two goals in Morocco that sealed Egypt's position at the global tournament. The main man taking center stage yet again. Liverpool need him to keep that position.

Factors for Variable Performances

There exist several factors why inconsistent, unimpressive displays have been the common thread running through Liverpool's opening to their title defence, if they produced seven straight victories or, before Manchester United's arrival to Liverpool's home ground on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The upheaval from numerous new signings, Arne Slot's search for his top team, the late forward's loss; Salah has endured the impact of them all during his unusually quiet beginning to the season.

The Weekend's Key Fixture

The weekend's key fixture could deliver the catalyst for the source of a record 16 goals in 17 games for the club against United, who are making their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not won at their biggest foes for almost a decade. Salah will present the manager with an additional unexpected problem, yet, if he stay caught in the disruption for an extended period.

Latest Form

Liverpool's manager likely seen the paradox of Salah's first goal against Djibouti recently. Struck immediately with the outside of his left foot inside the near post, Salah's eighth strike of Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign came from an nearly the same position to his big mistake against Chelsea prior to the break for internationals.

Had that attempt been converted shortly after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would even now be eulogising Florian Wirtz's maiden superb assist in the English top flight. Inquests into Salah's dip and Liverpool's infrequent losing run might also have been avoided. Rather, the midfielder's wait continues while the coach stews over a third away defeat, two caused by last-minute winners and one the outcome of a controversial spot-kick. Fine lines, as he emphasized on Friday, but they do not camouflage bigger issues.

Last Season's Impact

The forward was key in driving the side towards a historic 20th league title the prior campaign while doubt over his long-term plans persisted in the backdrop. “We brought nearly the utmost out of Salah this season,” said Slot when his leading striker signed a new two‑year contract in April. There has been a noticeable decline on an personal and team level from then. The team, not the terms of a deal, are responsible.

Performance Decline

The 33-year-old's production in terms of scores and assists is reduced 50% on the same stage last season, from a combined eight in the opening seven matches of last season to four (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) the current campaign. His tally of attempts has fallen from 22 to twelve while shots on target have fallen from fifteen to 5, leading to a steep fall in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

One attribute that has remained consistent is Salah's creativity. With twelve chances created, against 14 at the comparable period of last term, his numbers remain among the top in the continent and up in the group of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Team Output

Metrics of collective display will concern Slot further. He had 76 contacts in the enemy penalty area in the initial seven fixtures of the previous term. This term's total is 39. The numbers are indicative of the team's issues overall. Just Manchester United and the Gunners have attempted more shots on goal than Liverpool this season, but Liverpool's proportion of attempts from within the six-yard area is the smallest in the Premier League, their share from long range among the highest. The club's percentage of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is also among the lowest in the league.

“In the first half of the previous campaign we primarily found the net from a special moment from one of our front three and in the later stage it was mostly from a dead ball,” the manager said. “Currently we haven’t had as numerous sparks of quality and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the team that from open play generates the highest quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting foes in the way Slot planned when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were acquired in the offseason, though the team are the division's equal third-top scorers. A draw on Sunday would be sufficient for Slot to attain the 100-point total in less games than any manager in Liverpool's history (forty-six). Think what his offense will do when it finally gels. Liverpool remain a squad of exceptional talent, equipped to starting and chasing any foe for the title, but unity is lacking. This cannot be attributed on the recent arrivals only.

Personal and Team Challenges

The player is not the sole established player to experience a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister returning to match sharpness and the defender toiling. But he finds himself at the core of the turmoil that has of late affected the club. This goes to a personal level, with Salah's sadness over the passing of Jota obvious on that emotional first game against Bournemouth. The effect of Jota's loss can not be measured nor ignored.

Strategic Adjustments

In the prior campaign, he