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It's been a period, but Mohamed Salah was back playing the lead part last week with a double in Morocco that confirmed the Egyptian team's position at the global tournament. The main man claiming center stage once more. Liverpool require him to keep that position.

Reasons for Variable Performances

There exist numerous causes why variable, unconvincing displays have been the frequent pattern running through Liverpool's opening to their title defence, whether they recorded seven straight victories or, prior to Manchester United's visit to Anfield on the weekend, three consecutive defeats. The turmoil from numerous summer changes, the coach's hunt for his ideal lineup, Diogo Jota's tragic death; Salah has experienced the consequences of them all during his atypically subdued start to the season.

The Weekend's Big Match

Sunday's showpiece occasion could provide the spark for the source of a impressive 16 scores in 17 appearances for the club against United, who are paying their 100th appearance to Anfield and have not succeeded at their fierce rivals for almost a decade. Salah will present Slot with another unforeseen dilemma, though, should he stay caught in the turmoil much longer.

Latest Performance

The team's manager must have seen the contrast of Salah's first goal against the opponent recently. Struck first time with the exterior of his stronger foot inside the near post, his eighth strike of the national team's qualification run originated from an very similar spot to his expensive error versus Chelsea prior to the break for internationals.

If that shot with his right been converted shortly after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would still be praising Florian Wirtz's maiden sublime setup in the Premier League. Analyses into his drop and the team's infrequent losing streak might as well have been avoided. Instead, the midfielder's search goes on while Slot broods over a third consecutive away defeat, 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 camouflage underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Influence

The forward was instrumental in driving Liverpool towards a historic 20th league title the prior campaign while doubt over his career rumbled in the background. We extracted almost the maximum out of Mo this season,” said the manager when his main attacker signed a new two‑year contract in April. There has been a obvious decline on an individual and team level from then. The lineup, not the details of a contract, are responsible.

Statistical Decline

His contribution in terms of scores and assists is reduced 50% on the same point the previous term, from a combined eight in the first seven league games of last season to 4 (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) this term. His tally of attempts has decreased from 22 to 12 while accurate shots have declined from fifteen to 5, leading to a sharp decline in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, figures show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is Salah's playmaking. With 12 chances created, compared with fourteen at the equivalent point of last campaign, his stats remain among the top in the continent and comparable in the company of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by fifteen and thirteen years each.

Team Output

Indicators of collective output will concern Slot further. He had 76 touches in the enemy box in the opening seven matches of the prior campaign. This term's total is thirty-nine. The stats are indicative of the squad's difficulties as a whole. Only Manchester United and the Gunners have attempted more attempts on goal than Liverpool in the current term, but the team's rate of shots from within the six-yard area is the poorest in the division, their share from long range among the greatest. The club's rate of accurate shots – 28.4% – is as well among the poorest in the league.

“In the first half of the previous campaign we primarily found the net from a moment of magic from one of our front three and in the later stage it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “This season we have not seen as many acts of brilliance and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the side that from live action produces the highest quality opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They are not beating rivals in the manner the coach imagined when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were signed recently, although the team stay the division's third-best scorers. A draw on Sunday would be enough for him to achieve the century of points in fewer games than any boss in the club's past (46). Imagine what his attack will do when it finally gels. The side are still a squad of outstanding individual quality, capable of starting and reeling in any opponent for the title, but synergy is missing. That can not be blamed on the new signings by themselves.

Personal and Collective Issues

Salah is not the only key member to suffer a decline, with the midfielder returning to match sharpness and the defender toiling. But he finds himself at the heart of the disruption that has recently affected Liverpool. That goes to a individual level, with his grief over the passing of Jota evident on that heartfelt season opener against the Cherries. The influence of his tragedy can not be assessed nor overlooked.

Tactical Shifts

In the prior campaign, he