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It's been a period, but Mohamed Salah returned taking on the starring role in recent days with a brace in Morocco that secured the Egyptian team's position at the global tournament. The main man claiming center stage yet again. The Merseyside club need him to remain there.

Causes for Inconsistent Showings

There exist many factors why variable, unimpressive performances have been the recurring theme running through the team's start to their title defence, whether they achieved seven wins in a row or, before the Red Devils' visit to Anfield on Sunday, three losses in a row. The turmoil from numerous summer changes, Arne Slot's hunt for his top team, the late forward's passing; the winger has felt the effect of them all during his uncharacteristically low-key beginning to the season.

Sunday's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's big match could offer the catalyst for the cause of a impressive 16 strikes in 17 appearances for the club against United, who are paying their 100th appearance to the stadium and have not triumphed at their archrivals for almost a decade. The attacker will pose Slot with a further unexpected problem, though, should he remain lost in the disruption much longer.

Current Display

Liverpool's boss must have noticed the irony of Salah's first goal against the opponent recently. Drilled first time with the outside of his left foot into the front post, his eighth goal of the national team's qualification run came from an nearly the same position to his big mistake in the Chelsea match prior to the international break.

If that shot with his right been scored shortly after the restart at Stamford Bridge we would even now be celebrating Florian Wirtz's first sublime pass in the English top flight. Discussions into Salah's dip and the team's infrequent defeat streak might as well have been postponed. Rather, the midfielder's wait persists while the coach broods over a third consecutive defeat away, a couple inflicted by dying-minute strikes and one the outcome of a debatable penalty. Narrow differences, as Slot reiterated on Friday, but they do not camouflage larger problems.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

Salah was key in driving the side towards a historic 20th league title last season while speculation over his career lingered in the background. We extracted nearly the best out of Mo that campaign,” said Slot when his top scorer signed a fresh deal in April. We have seen a obvious drop-off on an individual and team level since. The lineup, not the details of a contract, are to blame.

Statistical Decline

His contribution in terms of scores and assists is down 50% on the same point last season, from a combined eight in the opening seven league games of last season to 4 (a pair of goals and two assists) the current campaign. The count of attempts has decreased from twenty-two to twelve while shots on target have fallen from fifteen to 5, contributing to a sharp decline in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6%, statistics show.

A particular skill that has stayed stable is his creativity. With 12 key passes, against fourteen at the equivalent point of last campaign, his stats stay among the best in Europe and comparable in the ranks of young talents and rising stars, his younger counterparts by 15 and 13 years respectively.

Collective Display

Measures of collective output will worry Slot more. Salah had 76 touches in the opposition box in the opening seven league games of the previous term. This term's total is 39. These figures are indicative of the squad's difficulties overall. Just United and Arsenal have attempted more attempts on goal than them this season, but the team's proportion of attempts from within the goal area is the smallest in the Premier League, their share from long range among the top. Liverpool's percentage of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is also among the poorest in the competition.

During the initial phase of the previous campaign we mainly scored from a moment of magic from one of our front three and in the second half it was mostly from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Currently we lack as numerous moments of genius and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the side that from open play produces the most quality opportunities.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not hurting opponents in the manner Slot planned when Florian Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were brought on board this summer, although Liverpool stay the division's equal third-top goalscorers. A draw on Sunday would be enough for Slot to attain the 100-point total in fewer games than any manager in Liverpool's history (46). Consider what his forward line will do when it finally gels. The side are still a team of supreme skill, able to starting and chasing any rival for the championship, but unity is absent. This can not be pinned on the summer recruits alone.

Individual and Team Problems

The player is not the only established member to experience a decline, with Alexis Mac Allister returning to form and the defender struggling. But he finds himself at the heart of the disruption that has lately affected the club. This applies to a personal level, with Salah's sadness over the passing of Jota evident on that poignant opening night against the Cherries. The effect of Jota's death can not be quantified nor ignored.

Strategic Changes

Last season, he