Mohamed Salah in need of centre stage return for Anfield’s grand show | Andy Hunter

The spotlight's back on Mohamed Salah - but for how long? The Egyptian forward's spectacular form in Egypt's World Cup qualifying campaign was a welcome boost to Liverpool's title defence, but the jury is still out on whether he can replicate this success at Anfield.

Liverpool have been plagued by inconsistency this season, with the team's performances varying wildly from match to match. The upheaval of so many summer changes, including the signing of new players like Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak, has had a significant impact on the squad. Diogo Jota's tragic passing last year also weighed heavily on Salah, who was visibly emotional in his first game back against Bournemouth.

Salah's own form has been patchy, with a significant drop-off from last season's numbers. His goal tally and assists are down 50% compared to this time last year, while his shooting accuracy has plummeted from 78.9% to 55.6%. However, one attribute that remains steady is his ability to create chances for himself and his teammates - a testament to his enduring talent.

The team's overall cohesion is lacking, with measures of collective performance suggesting that Liverpool are struggling to dominate matches. The statistics show that they've attempted more shots on goal than any other team in the league, but have been less effective from inside their own half. Their percentage of shots from outside the six-yard box is among the highest in the Premier League, while their ratio of shots on target is also relatively low.

Liverpool's head coach Jürgen Klopp has always recognized the importance of individual talent to his team's success. He brought in new signings Wirtz and Ekitiké to address shortcomings at full-back, but it seems that slotting them into the starting lineup hasn't been as seamless as he had hoped.

Klopp is aware of the need for Salah to command centre stage again - a role he typically assumes against Manchester United. But how long will this last? The spotlight may soon be taken away from him, and with Liverpool's title defence hanging in the balance, it's crucial that he returns to form soon.

The question on everyone's lips now is: can Salah revive his form and help Liverpool overcome their current struggles? Or will the team struggle without their talismanic forward at the helm? Only time will tell.

I'm low-key worried about Salah's form . He's still a superstar, don't get me wrong, but Liverpool's inconsistency this season is real . I mean, have you seen them play against teams like City and United lately? They just can't seem to catch a break. And yeah, the new signings are cool and all, but it feels like they're still finding their groove .

I think Salah needs to get his goals up ASAP because if he doesn't, Liverpool might struggle to keep up with the likes of City and Chelsea. Plus, with Pep's team looking so strong this season, I don't think Liverpool can afford to drop points. They need to sort out their defending and start winning games convincingly .

On a positive note, Salah is still creating chances for himself and his teammates, which is awesome . He's got the talent, but he needs to get back on track ASAP or Liverpool might find themselves in trouble

Imagine a puzzle with missing pieces ... Liverpool's inconsistent performances are like trying to complete this puzzle without knowing which ones are the real pieces . Mohamed Salah is an essential piece, but he hasn't been his usual self this season . His form has dropped off, and it's like someone turned down the spotlight on him .

The team's cohesion is lacking, and it's hard to see how they can dominate matches without a clear leader . Salah creates chances for himself and others, but that's not enough . The stats show that Liverpool are trying too much from outside their own half, which is like throwing darts in the dark .

Jürgen Klopp needs to find a way to get his players working together again ... it's time for these new signings to step up and fill the gaps . Can Salah regain his form? Will he be able to command centre stage once more? The answer is still out there, waiting to be solved .

The team needs him back at 100% ️. Liverpool can't afford another season of ups and downs... they need a solid foundation . Can they get it from Salah and his teammates? Only time will tell

salahs form is going downhill fast , 50% less goals and assists than last year already? that's a huge drop. and the stats don't lie, they're not even dominating matches, it's like they're just phoning it in . klopp needs to do some serious revamping of the squad if they wanna make a push for the title this year. and as for salah commanding centre stage again? lol like that's never happened before , but seriously, how long can he keep up this level of performance? 5 games? 10? it's hard to say.

I feel like Salah needs to step up his game ASAP , not just for himself but for the whole team. I mean, they're relying on him to bring that magic back to Anfield and we all know how much he's struggled this season. It's like, Liverpool is known for its squad depth, but right now it feels like everyone's waiting on Salah to get back to his old self . The team needs him to be consistent and lead by example. I'm loving the new signings tho, Wirtz and Ekitiké are cool additions! But seriously, can't we just have a healthy dose of consistency for once?

I think its a shame about the squad consistency issue, u know how much ppl loved watching Salah dominate games last season . He's still got that magic but i feel like the midfield and defense need to get their act together ASAP or Liverpool might get left behind in the title race . And honestly, it feels like they're overthinking the lineup changes, maybe just stick with what worked for them previously . Can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out tho!

I'm low-key worried about Mo Salah right now . He's always been the glue that holds Liverpool together, but this season it feels like he's just trying to get back on track instead of carrying the team to victory. Those stats are sketchy, and I get that he's had a tough time with some signings not working out as planned... But at the same time, can we really rely on him to be his old self again? The thing is, Salah has been doing this for years, and it's easy to forget just how good he was. Maybe I'm being too harsh, but it feels like the team's problems run deeper than just Mo's patchy form...