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It's been a while, but the Egyptian star was back assuming the main part last week with a double in Morocco that sealed Egypt's spot at the upcoming World Cup. The star claiming the spotlight another time. Liverpool require him to keep that position.

Factors for Unsteady Showings

There exist many reasons why variable, unimpressive performances have been the common thread running through the team's beginning to their league defense, if they recorded a winning streak or, prior to the Red Devils' visit to Anfield on the weekend, three losses in a row. The disruption from so many summer changes, the coach's search for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's loss; the winger has experienced the impact of them all during his uncharacteristically subdued opening to the season.

The Weekend's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's big match could provide the impetus for the origin of a record 16 scores in 17 appearances for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not triumphed at their fierce rivals for more than nine years. Salah will pose Slot with a further surprise issue, yet, should he stay lost in the disruption for an extended period.

Latest Form

The team's manager likely noticed the irony of Salah's initial score against Djibouti in midweek. Swept immediately with the outside of his stronger foot inside the front post, Salah's eighth score of the national team's World Cup qualifying campaign was from an almost identical spot to his big mistake versus Chelsea prior to the break for internationals.

If that right-foot effort been finished moments after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be eulogising the new signing's first superb pass in the Premier League. Inquests into Salah's dip and Liverpool's infrequent losing run might as well have been delayed. Instead, the midfielder's wait persists while Slot fumes over a third away defeat, two inflicted by last-minute winners and another the outcome of a disputed penalty. Fine lines, as Slot reiterated on recently, but they cannot hide bigger issues.

Last Season's Impact

Salah was instrumental in driving the side towards a historic 20th crown the prior campaign while uncertainty over his future persisted in the background. “We brought almost the utmost out of Mo that campaign,” said the manager when his top scorer signed an extension in April. We have seen a noticeable drop-off on an personal and team level since. The lineup, not the details of a contract, are to blame.

Statistical Drop

His production in terms of scores and setups is lower half on the same stage the previous term, from a combined 8 in the opening seven fixtures of last season to four (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this season. The count of shots has decreased from twenty-two to 12 while efforts on goal have fallen from 15 to 5, contributing to a steep decline in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, figures show.

A single trait that has remained consistent is Salah's creativity. With twelve chances created, versus fourteen at the same stage of last campaign, his figures remain among the finest in Europe and up in the ranks of young talents and Arda Güler, his younger counterparts by fifteen and 13 years each.

Team Display

Indicators of team performance will trouble the coach further. He had seventy-six touches in the opposition box in the opening seven league games of the previous term. This season's tally is thirty-nine. The stats are indicative of the squad's issues in general. Just United and the Gunners have tried more shots on goal than Liverpool this season, but Liverpool's percentage of shots from inside the six-yard box is the lowest in the top flight, their share from distance among the top. Liverpool's proportion of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is as well among the lowest in the competition.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we mainly 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. “Currently we lack as many acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are still the team that from open play produces the most quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting rivals in the manner Slot planned when Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were acquired in the offseason, though Liverpool are the division's joint third-highest goalscorers. A draw on the weekend would be enough for him to reach the 100-point total in fewer games than any manager in the club's past (forty-six). Consider what his offense will do when it finally gels. The side are still a squad of supreme talent, able to sparking and reeling in any rival for the championship, but synergy is absent. That can not be blamed on the summer recruits only.

Personal and Team Challenges

Salah is not the only established player to experience a dip, with Alexis Mac Allister regaining to fitness and the defender laboring. But he finds himself at the heart of the upheaval that has lately affected Liverpool. That applies to a personal level, with his grief over the passing of Diogo Jota evident on that poignant opening night against Bournemouth. The impact of his tragedy can neither be quantified nor ignored.

Strategic Changes

In the prior campaign, he