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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's costliest footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to force an leveler against their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring offence that deserved the harshest scrutiny at Anfield. The team's backline structure has vanished.

Anonymous Display from Key Attackers

Yes, the Swedish striker was mostly quiet in the No 9 role and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his individual toils persisted versus the team he usually scores against. The Sweden international had his initial attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s new shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden after the break opportunity in front of the home end and neither complain when their substitution came up. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to net a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat In Spite of Opportunities

It seemed unthinkable for the hosts to lose a game in which they created numerous chances, Slot stated. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, another rival and now Manchester United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown Under Pressure

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as Liverpool head coach, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that allowed the visitors to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that the team's coaching staff had worked on fixing after the pause, featuring yet another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' after halftime recovery and cost them the game.

Momentum Lost Despite Improvement

Momentum was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel another late victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and United in retreat. Instead, it was a further last-gasp top-flight loss, the third straight, after the team's set-piece weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United players free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A thumping goal into the goal that the player missed in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the best win of his challenging United reign. Despite the negativity around Amorim it was his squad that played with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The first back-to-back league wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the outcome. Slot’s side once more appeared like strangers at points, particularly when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the division this season.

Quick Opener Exposes Backline Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to go through opponents to reach the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in open area on the right. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, the centre-back slow to recover and follow the forward's movement while the goalkeeper, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Questions

The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and wonder where the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the concentration and coordination among his backline. The forward's strike means the side have kept only a couple of shutouts in a dozen games this season, the most recent occurring eight games ago at another ground.

Constant Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left side repeatedly in a opening period in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ lead. Releasing the winger early against Kerkez was clearly part of the manager's gameplan. It worked time and again in the first half. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured a further tough match in a club jersey. Set-pieces were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who almost sent Mbeumo through while attempting an challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” Slot explained after United’s victory. “Following the second half we had multiple offensive players on the field. That’s maybe why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we typically are. Usually we would have more defensive players on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”