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It is now appropriate to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125m Anfield striker, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. Therefore, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's costliest footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League title holders struggled to force an leveler versus their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring attack that warranted the fiercest blame at Anfield. His backline structure has vanished.

Anonymous Display from Star Attackers

Yes, the Swedish striker was mostly unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and Salah again poor as his difficulties persisted versus the club he typically scores against. The Swedish player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s new shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward wasted a excellent second-half chance in front of the home end and neither complain when their substitution came up. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to net a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

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, Slot claimed. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now Manchester United have shown.

Defensive Breakdown During Pressure

As he presided over a fourth straight loss as the club's manager, the first man to do so since a previous manager in November 2014, Slot must have despaired at a backline effort that allowed the visitors to seize control as well as their initial win at Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the repeated issues that the team's management had focused on solving following the pause, including another set-piece goal, it was a display that totally undermined the title holders' after halftime recovery and lost them the match.

Advantage Squandered Even with Improvement

Momentum was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's quick opener. The Merseyside club could feel another last-minute victory with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and another forward sparking improvement and United in retreat. Rather, it was a further last-gasp top-flight loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s set-piece weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United members free behind the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Excel

A thumping goal into the net that the player blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his turbulent club reign. Despite the negativity around the coach it was his squad that performed with obvious strategy and a well-executed plan for the majority of a compelling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. Slot’s side once more looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the division this season.

Early Goal Reveals Defensive Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the inception to the execution of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was little impact on the first attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to reach the ball, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he received the ball and passed to the winger in open area on the right. the defender was slow to respond, the centre-back slow to track back and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could reasonably point to his decisions and wonder why the whistle was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his backline. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s side have kept only two clean sheets in a dozen games this season, the most recent coming many matches ago at Burnley.

Constant Exploitation of Left Flank

United carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a opening period in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even the attacker all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Sending the winger early against the full-back was clearly in the manager's gameplan. It worked repeatedly in the opening half. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth endured another tough evening in a club jersey. Set-pieces were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost put Mbeumo through while attempting one challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” the head coach commented following the opposition's victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had multiple offensive players on the pitch. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Usually we would have more defensive personnel on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”