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It is now appropriate to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Anfield striker, the Liverpool head coach commented on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's costliest player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the English top-flight title holders tried in vain to secure an equaliser against their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming forward line that earned the strongest blame at the stadium. The team's defensive foundation has vanished.

Quiet Performance from Key Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely anonymous in the centre-forward position and Salah disappointing again as his difficulties persisted versus the team he typically scores against. The Swedish player had his initial attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by the opposition's latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward wasted a glorious after the break opportunity facing the home end and neither complain when their numbers eventually. Cody Gakpo also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow failed to net a second moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It should have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a match in which they generated so many chances, Slot claimed. But it is possible with a backline in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and currently United have proven.

Backline Collapse During Pressure

As he presided over a fourth straight defeat as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so since a previous manager in years past, Slot must have despaired at a backline effort that invited the visitors to take the initiative as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had focused on solving following the international break, including yet another set-piece goal, it was a performance that totally undermined the champions’ second half comeback and cost them the match.

Advantage Lost Even with Improvement

Momentum was at last with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. Liverpool could feel another late win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward sparking progress and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another late Premier League defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s set-piece weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself among several opposition players unmarked behind Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Excel

A powerful header into the net that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's tie gave the United manager the finest win of his turbulent club tenure. For all the negativity surrounding the coach it was his squad that played with definite plan and a smartly implemented plan for the majority of a compelling contest. The first back-to-back Premier League victories of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. Slot’s team once more appeared like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the division this season.

Quick Opener Reveals Defensive Issues

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to pass opponents to reach the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and released the winger in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk slow to track back and mark the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and ask where the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and communication levels his defenders. The forward's goal means Slot’s side have managed only two shutouts in a dozen games this season, the most recent occurring eight games ago at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Defensive Side

United exposed Liverpool’s left side frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and even Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ lead. Sending the winger early against the full-back was clearly in Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from Bournemouth experienced another difficult evening in a Liverpool jersey. Set-pieces were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who almost put Mbeumo in on goal while attempting one challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” Slot commented following the opposition's victory. “Following the second half we had multiple offensive members on the pitch. This is perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was less organized as we typically are. Normally we would have more defending personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”