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It is now appropriate to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Liverpool striker, Arne Slot commented on the weekend. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to secure an leveler versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that earned the fiercest scrutiny at Anfield. His defence has disappeared.

Quiet Performance from Star Forwards

Yes, Isak was largely anonymous in the No 9 role and the Egyptian winger again poor as his personal struggles continued versus the club he often scores against. The Swedish international had his initial shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the first half, smartly stopped by United’s latest goalkeeper the young keeper. Salah missed a glorious after the break opportunity in front of the Kop and could not complain when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar three times and inexplicably was unable to score a second shortly after the defender's decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat Despite Opportunities

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they generated plenty of opportunities, Slot stated. But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently United have proven.

Defensive Breakdown During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth straight defeat as the club's manager, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have despaired at a defence display that invited the visitors to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Filled with the identical errors that Liverpool’s management had worked on eradicating after the international break, including another set-piece score, it was a display that completely undermined the champions’ second half comeback and cost them the match.

Advantage Squandered Even with Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. Liverpool could sense another last-minute win with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and another forward igniting progress and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further late Premier League loss, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three opposition members unmarked past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Rivals Excel

A thumping header into the goal that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's tie gave the United manager the best victory of his challenging United tenure. Despite the negativity around Amorim it was his squad that played with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The first consecutive league wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the outcome. The Liverpool side again appeared like strangers at points, especially when allowing a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Quick Goal Exposes Defensive Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was no purchase on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to go through opponents to connect with the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he received the ball and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to react, the centre-back delayed to recover and follow the forward's movement while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and wonder why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the focus and communication levels his backline. Mbeumo’s goal indicates the team have kept only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the most recent coming many matches ago at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors carved open the left side frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ advantage. Sending the winger early versus the full-back was clearly in the manager's tactic. It worked time and again in the first 45 minutes. The £40 million new arrival from his former club experienced a further tough match in a club jersey. Throw-ins were also a issue for the previous player's chosen successor, who nearly sent the forward through while making one challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” the head coach explained following the opposition's victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven offensive members on the field. That’s perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Usually we would have additional defensive personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”