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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Anfield striker, the Liverpool head coach remarked on the weekend. Therefore, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League champions attempted unsuccessfully to force an equaliser against Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming offence that deserved the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's backline structure has disappeared.

Quiet Performance from Key Attackers

Indeed, Isak was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward position and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils continued versus the club he typically plunders. The Sweden player had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a excellent after the break chance in front of the home end and could not protest when their numbers eventually. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to net a second moments after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Impossible Defeat Despite Chances

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated so many opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently Manchester United have demonstrated.

Backline Breakdown Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth consecutive defeat as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have been frustrated at a defence display that invited the visitors to dominate as well as their first victory at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the identical errors that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on solving following the pause, featuring another set-piece score, it was a display that completely derailed the champions’ second half comeback and lost them the match.

Advantage Lost Even with Improvement

Momentum was finally with the hosts when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. Liverpool could feel one more last-minute victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward sparking improvement and United in retreat. Instead, it was a further late top-flight loss, the third straight, after the team's set-piece weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three United 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 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his challenging club reign. For all the criticism around Amorim it was his squad that played with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The first consecutive Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. The Liverpool side once more looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Opener Exposes Backline Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial header from the captain, a probable result of having to go through two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he received the ball and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. the defender was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to recover and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Questions

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and ask why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also question the focus and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal indicates the team have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last coming eight games previously at another ground.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

The visitors carved open the left flank repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo early versus Kerkez was clearly part of Amorim’s tactic. It succeeded time and again in the first 45 minutes. The £40 million new arrival from his former club experienced a further difficult match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost put the forward through while attempting one interception. The defender and the captain appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“We take a lot of gambles,” the head coach explained after United’s win. “After the second half we had six or seven attacking players on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defensive personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to do better.”