🔗 Share this article

It has been a while, but the Egyptian star was back taking on the lead part recently with a brace in Morocco that sealed the Egyptian team's place at the 2026 World Cup. The main man claiming the limelight once more. The Reds must have him to remain there.

Causes for Unsteady Performances

There exist numerous factors why unsteady, unimpressive performances have been the common thread characterizing the team's opening to their title defence, if they recorded seven straight victories or, prior to Manchester United's visit to Liverpool's home ground on Sunday, three consecutive defeats. The disruption from so many summer changes, Arne Slot's quest for his best XI, the late forward's loss; the winger has endured the impact of them all during his uncharacteristically quiet opening to the season.

The Weekend's Showpiece Occasion

Sunday's key fixture could deliver the impetus for the origin of a record 16 strikes in 17 games for the club against United, who are making their 100th visit to the stadium and have not triumphed at their biggest foes for more than nine years. The attacker will present the manager with a further unexpected problem, though, should he continue lost in the turmoil for an extended period.

Recent Performance

The team's head coach must have recognized the irony of the player's first goal against Djibouti last Wednesday. Swept first time with the exterior of his left foot into the close post, his eighth score of Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign came from an nearly the same location to his expensive error against Chelsea before the national team pause.

Had that right-foot effort been finished moments after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would even now be eulogising Florian Wirtz's maiden excellent pass in the league. Discussions into his drop and the team's unusual defeat streak might as well have been delayed. Instead, Wirtz's wait goes on while the coach broods over a third defeat away, a couple caused by dying-minute strikes and another the result of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as Slot repeated on recently, but they do not camouflage bigger issues.

Previous Campaign's Contribution

The forward was key in propelling the side towards a historic 20th league title the prior campaign while speculation over his long-term plans persisted in the backdrop. “We brought almost the best out of Mo this season,” said Slot when his top scorer signed an extension in April. We have seen a clear decrease on an personal and collective level from then. The team, not the terms of a deal, are to blame.

Statistical Decrease

The 33-year-old's contribution in terms of goals and setups is down half on the corresponding point the previous term, 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 number of shots has decreased from 22 to 12 while accurate shots have declined from fifteen to 5, causing a significant fall in conversion rate (excluding blocks) from 78.9 percent to 55.6 percent, data show.

A particular skill that has held more steady is his creativity. With twelve chances created, compared with fourteen at the comparable period of last term, his figures stay among the best in the continent and comparable in the company of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his younger counterparts by fifteen and 13 years respectively.

Team Display

Measures of team output will concern Slot additionally. He had 76 contacts in the enemy box in the first seven matches of last season. This season's total is thirty-nine. The stats are symptomatic of the team's problems overall. Just United and Arsenal have tried more shots on goal than Liverpool in the current term, but Liverpool's percentage of attempts from inside the goal area is the smallest in the division, their percentage from distance among the top. The club's percentage of shots on target – 28.4% – is also among the poorest in the competition.

“In the first half of the previous campaign we mainly found the net from an individual brilliance from a forward and in the later stage it was more from a set piece,” the manager said. “Currently we haven’t had as many moments of genius and we have not found the net from dead balls. But we are nonetheless the side that from live action generates the highest quality opportunities.”

Recent Additions

They are not punishing opponents in the way the coach planned when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak were brought on board recently, although the team remain the league's equal third-top scorers. A tie on the weekend would be sufficient for him to reach the 100-point total in fewer games than any manager in Liverpool's past (46). Think what his offense will do when it does settle. Liverpool remain a squad of outstanding individual quality, able to sparking and reeling in any rival for the title, but synergy is missing. This cannot be blamed on the new signings only.

Individual and Collective Issues

The player is not the only key player to experience a decline, with the midfielder returning to form and the defender toiling. But he is at the core of the disruption that has recently enveloped Liverpool. This applies to a personal level, with his sorrow over the death of Diogo Jota evident on that poignant season opener against Bournemouth. The influence of Jota's tragedy can not be assessed nor overlooked.

Tactical Adjustments

In the prior campaign, he