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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Anfield attacker, Arne Slot stated on Friday. Therefore, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League champions tried in vain to force an equaliser versus Manchester United without them, it was not Slot’s underperforming offence that deserved the harshest scrutiny at the stadium. His defence has disappeared.

Quiet Performance from Star Forwards

Yes, Isak was largely anonymous in the centre-forward role and Salah subpar once more as his difficulties continued versus the team he usually plunders. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's new goalkeeper the young keeper. The forward wasted a golden second-half chance in front of the Kop and neither protest when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork three times and somehow failed to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat In Spite of Opportunities

It ought to have been unthinkable for the hosts to lose a game in which they created so many opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as one opponent, another rival and currently United have proven.

Backline Breakdown During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth straight defeat as the club's manager, the first man to achieve this since a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a backline effort that invited United to dominate as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s management had worked on solving following the pause, including yet another set-piece score, it was a display that completely undermined the champions’ second half comeback and lost them the game.

Momentum Lost Despite Improvement

Momentum was at last with the home side when the substitute cancelled out the forward's quick opener. The Merseyside club could feel another last-minute win with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and another forward sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third straight, after the team's set-piece frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United members unmarked behind the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Opposition Excel

A thumping header into the net that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best win of his challenging United reign. For all the criticism around Amorim it was his team that performed with obvious strategy and a well-executed plan for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The first back-to-back Premier League wins of the manager's reign were the result. Slot’s team again appeared like strangers at points, especially when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the division this season.

Quick Goal Reveals Backline Issues

The home side were lacking from the inception to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the initial header from the captain, a probable result of having to go through opponents to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. the defender was slow to respond, Van Dijk delayed to recover and follow Mbeumo’s movement while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus 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 question the concentration and coordination among his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal means Slot’s team have kept only two clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the most recent occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the away team's lead. Releasing the winger early versus the full-back was obviously part of Amorim’s strategy. It succeeded repeatedly in the first half. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth experienced a further difficult evening in a club jersey. Set-pieces were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost put Mbeumo in on goal while making an interception. The defender and the captain appear on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” Slot commented following the opposition's victory. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven offensive players on the pitch. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defensive personnel on the field. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”