Form is temporary, class is permanent.
That part is always true and I will also argue that just by him being on the pitch other Liverpool attackers have much more room to play their magic. Same as it was for Messi, original Ronaldo, Ronaldo .... they even played some important games slightly injured just because opposition always double or even triple marks them and that leaves so much space to exploit for others. They were often rubbish for their own high standards in those games but their teams got the wins they needed.
And this is how I will always see the difference between true fans and "part time" spectators. I'm not in love with people like Ronaldo, or even Benzema right now, but it's amazing to see people switch off and on, hot and cold, about how they feel about the stars of their clubs. Watch Messi, Ronaldo, Salah, Benzema and you realize they have been playing a lot of their careers with injury and not fully fit.
And like you said, people forever count their goals and assists as their mark of performance so if they don't have any points there suddenly there are a bad player but watch any game now and 2/3 players swarming around them, how is that bad for the team, right? I really feel terrible reading fans who turn on their players who actually just can't meet their own impossible standards.
I remember Salah vs Manchester City, 3 or 4 players around him and he still scored. If you get the best team in the world to mark you with 3 players, you already win that side of the field. But if he didn't, he made it so open for the others. And guess what? The very next game again he did a similar wonder goal, and this time 4 or 5 players around him.
And Ronaldo, I am Barca so how can I like him but admire him for sure. Even an "old man" in EPL running on the wing can still attract 2 players to defend.
Messi, no need to say. I used to see him week in week out with 5 players following him, and at PSG they still close him down even at halfway line, so I don't care he doesn't score as much now, his value is being on the pitch.