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The time has come to start judging Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Liverpool attacker, the Liverpool head coach stated on the weekend. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s highest-priced player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an equaliser versus Manchester United without them, it was not Slot’s misfiring attack that deserved the harshest criticism at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has vanished.

Quiet Display from Key Forwards

Yes, Isak was mostly unnoticeable in the centre-forward position and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his personal struggles continued against the club he often plunders. The Swedish international had his first shot on target in the top division as a Reds player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by the opposition's latest shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah squandered a glorious second-half chance facing the home end and could not protest when their substitution eventually. The Dutch attacker also struck the woodwork on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to net a second shortly after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Chances

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created plenty of opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a backline in such condition, as one opponent, another rival and now United have shown.

Defensive Breakdown During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as the club's manager, the first person to do so since a previous manager in years past, the coach must have been frustrated at a backline effort that invited the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s coaching staff had focused on solving after the pause, featuring another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that totally derailed the title holders' second half comeback and cost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the home side when the substitute cancelled out the forward's early breakthrough. Liverpool could sense one more last-minute win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward igniting improvement and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was another late top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself one of three opposition members unmarked past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Excel

A thumping header into the net that Maguire blazed over in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest victory of his challenging club tenure. Despite the criticism surrounding Amorim it was his team that played with clear purpose and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a compelling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League victories of the manager's reign were the result. Slot’s team once more looked like strangers at times, particularly when allowing a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Early Goal Reveals Defensive Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the start to the finish of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was little impact on the first attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to pass opponents to reach the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and passed to the winger in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, Van Dijk slow to track back and follow Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Questions

Slot could reasonably point to his decisions and ask where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the focus and communication among his backline. The forward's strike indicates Slot’s side have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent occurring many matches ago at another ground.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ lead. Sending the winger early versus the full-back was clearly part of the manager's tactic. It worked repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured a further difficult match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were even a issue for the previous player's chosen successor, who almost sent Mbeumo through while attempting one interception. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at present.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” the head coach explained following the opposition's victory. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking members on the pitch. This is maybe why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have more defending players on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”