Egypt booked their 2026 World Cup spot over the international break.
A 3-0 win over Djibouti means they’ll jet stateside next summer. And Liverpool fans will have noticed a Mo Salah brace in the routine victory. It’s no secret that Salah has made a slow start to the season.
In this article, we’ll cover:
The Egyptian King hasn’t reached the heights of last season as Liverpool look to defend their crown. He finished top for both goals (29) and assists (18) in the Premier League, after all. After seven matches this time around, he has two of each.
Why Salah is struggling
In a transitional Liverpool side, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Reds invested heavily over the summer. Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike all signed for hefty fees. There’s been a revamp at full-back, too, with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong signing. It was a dream-come-true window for the Reds but in reality; new signings and current stars need time to gel.
Salah is one of those whose form has suffered due to incomings and outgoings. The departure of Darwin Nunez and tragic passing of Diogo Jota means the 33-year-old needs to strike up new understandings with new teammates. The exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold has also impacted the reigning PFA Player of the Year. A seven-year partnership ended came to an end over the summer.
Whereas previously Salah had free reign on the right flank, he now has to share the touchline with buccaneering pair Frimpong or Conor Bradley. Dominik Szoboszlai is another to have deputised at right-back. It means that a previously settled right side is anything but at present.
Stats show a clear drop in form
Previously, Alexander-Arnold would regularly launch balls into space for Salah to run onto. This so often left him in one-on-situations with opposition markers, and he had a knack for coming out on top against full-backs. Indeed, Salah averaged 1.6 completed take ons per 90 minutes with a success rate of 44.62% in the Premier League last season. This has since dropped to 0.2 with a 12.5% success rate. He’s completed as many take ons as Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayinder (1).
With a change in the way Liverpool are looking to hurt teams, Salah is finding it increasingly difficult to get on the ball. As such, he’s struggling to impact games in same manner. Shots (2.8 to 1.3), chances created (2.4 to 1.8) and touches per 90 (49.7 to 42.3) have all dropped this season. Tellingly, he’s having almost half the number of touches in the opposition box (5.58) this season as he was last (10.50).
This all comes, too, despite Liverpool ranking top for possession (61.8%) in England’s top tier this term. As opponents sit a little deeper to frustrate Liverpool, teams are able to minimise Salah’s influence to greater effect, evident in that his ground duel success rate has also dropped from 40.83% to 19.35%.
Then there is the change in midfield personnel. There is no longer the cover afforded to Salah from Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch. Wirtz is struggling to impact games that many had hoped when he signed from Bayer Leverkusen. As such, Arne Slot has needed to rein his star man in a little. At least until this new-look Liverpool are more familiar with the change in shape and style.
Hope for Salah and Liverpool
There is hope on the horizon, however. Liverpool face rivals Manchester United on Merseyside on Sunday afternoon. Man Utd are out to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time since Ruben Amorim took charge almost a year ago. What’s more, they’ve managed to hold Liverpool to successive draws on their last two drips to Anfield.
And yet, Salah enjoys playing Man Utd. He’s scored 16 career goals in just 17 outings against the Manchester giants, and in eight of his last nine league appearances. If ever there was a game for Salah to kickstart his season, it’s the visit of Man Utd.
While they have sharpened up defensively – 9.1 shots conceded per 90 is the third fewest in the division – this is a Man Utd side that has managed just one clean sheet this season. Whether Slot is ready to give Salah more slack remains to be seen, however.
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United’s three-man backline has come in for criticism and deservedly so. The United midfield pairing of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro has been consistently overrun this season. With that, United are being carved open a little easier. Fernandes, for example, has been dribbled past the second-most times (13) in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Amorim’s side have ridden their luck on occasion this season. By comparison, Liverpool should feel confident about making them pay for a lack of defensive protection. With space between the centre-backs and wing-backs, Salah will have the chance to put in a showing akin to last season.
Having fallen to three consecutive defeats for the first time since 2023, Liverpool are desperate to get back on track. Getting the ball to Salah quickly on Sunday will boost their chances of a return to winning ways. Grant him the freedom he needs to thrive and supporters may see the Salah of old this weekend.