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It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot commented on Friday. As such, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's most expensive player sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an leveler versus Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's underperforming forward line that earned the strongest criticism at the stadium. His backline structure has vanished.

Quiet Performance from Key Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely unnoticeable in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger again poor as his difficulties continued versus the team he usually plunders. The Sweden player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a golden after the break chance facing the home end and neither complain when their numbers came up. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to score a second shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Unthinkable Defeat In Spite of Chances

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a game in which they created so many opportunities, Slot claimed. But it is possible with a backline in this form, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have proven.

Backline Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that allowed the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the identical errors that the team's coaching staff had focused on fixing after the pause, featuring yet another set-piece score, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' after halftime comeback and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the home side when Gakpo equalized the forward's early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense one more last-minute win with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself among several opposition members free behind the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A powerful goal into the goal that the player blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his challenging club reign. For all the criticism around Amorim it was his squad that performed with definite plan and a smartly implemented plan for the majority of a compelling contest. The initial consecutive league victories of the manager's time in charge were the outcome. Slot’s side once more looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Quick Goal Reveals Defensive Flaws

Liverpool were found wanting from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from the captain, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to connect with the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right. the defender was late to respond, Van Dijk slow to track back and follow Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Questions

Slot could reasonably point to his decisions and wonder where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal means Slot’s side have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent occurring many matches ago at Burnley.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

The visitors carved open Liverpool’s left side frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and even the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo quickly versus Kerkez was obviously in the manager's gameplan. It worked time and again in the first half. The £40m summer signing from Bournemouth endured a further difficult match in a club jersey. Throw-ins were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost sent the forward in on goal while making one interception. Kerkez and the captain seem on different wavelengths at the moment.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” Slot commented after United’s win. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven offensive members on the field. That’s perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to do better.”