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It has been a while, but Mohamed Salah reappeared assuming the lead part recently with a brace in Morocco that confirmed the Egyptian team's place at the global tournament. The key player claiming center stage once more. The Reds require him to remain there.

Factors for Unsteady Displays

There exist several causes why variable, unconvincing showings have been the common thread defining Liverpool's start to their championship defense, whether they produced seven wins in a row or, before the Red Devils' visit to Anfield on Sunday, a losing run. The disruption from multiple new signings, the coach's search for his top team, Diogo Jota's loss; the winger has felt the impact of them all during his uncharacteristically quiet start to the season.

Sunday's Big Match

Sunday's big match could provide the impetus for the cause of a record 16 strikes in 17 outings for Liverpool against Manchester United, who are making their 100th appearance to the stadium and have not triumphed at their biggest foes for almost a decade. The attacker will present Slot with a further unexpected problem, however, if he remain lost in the turmoil much longer.

Latest Display

The team's head coach likely seen the paradox of Salah's initial score against the opponent in midweek. Swept directly with the exterior of his stronger foot inside the front post, Salah's eighth strike of Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign was from an almost identical position to his expensive error versus Chelsea prior to the break for internationals.

Had that shot with his right been converted shortly after the restart at Chelsea's ground we would still be celebrating the new signing's maiden sublime assist in the English top flight. Inquests into Salah's decline and the team's rare losing run might as well have been postponed. Rather, Wirtz's search goes on while Slot fumes over a third loss on the road, a couple due to last-minute winners and one the outcome of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as he emphasized on Friday, but they do not mask underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

Salah was crucial in propelling Liverpool towards a historic 20th championship the previous term while speculation over his long-term plans rumbled in the background. “We brought nearly the maximum out of Mo this season,” said Slot when his main attacker signed a fresh deal in the spring. There has been a obvious decline on an personal and collective level from then. The lineup, not the details of a deal, are accountable.

Statistical Drop

His production in terms of goals and setups is reduced 50% on the corresponding point last season, from a total 8 in the first seven fixtures of last season to four (a pair of goals and a couple of assists) the current campaign. His tally of shots has decreased from twenty-two to 12 while shots on target have dropped from 15 to five, leading to a significant decline in shot accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, figures show.

A single trait that has held more steady is his playmaking. With twelve opportunities made, against fourteen at the comparable period of last campaign, his numbers remain among the top in Europe and comparable in the company of Lamine Yamal and rising stars, his juniors by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Team Output

Indicators of collective output will trouble the coach further. Salah had 76 touches in the opposition box in the opening seven league games of the prior campaign. This term's tally is 39. The numbers are indicative of the squad's difficulties in general. Just United and Arsenal have tried a greater number of shots on goal than Liverpool in the current term, but Liverpool's rate of attempts from within the six-yard box is the smallest in the division, their percentage from distance among the highest. The club's proportion of efforts on goal – 28.4% – is also among the lowest in the league.

“In the first half of the previous campaign we mainly scored from an individual brilliance from a forward and in the later stage it was more from a set piece,” Slot said. “Currently we lack as numerous sparks of quality and we have not found the net from set pieces. But we are still the side that from live action generates the most xG chances.”

Summer Arrivals

They are not hurting opponents in the fashion Slot envisaged when Wirtz, the French forward and the Swedish striker were brought on board recently, though the team are the division's third-best scorers. A tie on Sunday would be enough for Slot to attain the 100-point mark in fewer games than any manager in the club's past (forty-six). Imagine what his offense will do when it finally gels. Liverpool remain a squad of supreme talent, equipped to sparking and reeling in any foe for the championship, but synergy is absent. This cannot be blamed on the recent arrivals only.

Personal and Team Issues

Salah is not the only senior member to experience a drop-off, with the midfielder regaining to form and the defender toiling. But he finds himself at the center of the turmoil that has recently affected the club. This goes to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the death of Jota clear on that emotional season opener against the Cherries. The influence of his tragedy can not be assessed nor overlooked.

Tactical Changes

Last season, he