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Now is the moment to begin evaluating Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Anfield striker, Arne Slot commented on Friday. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s highest-priced player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the English top-flight title holders tried in vain to force an equaliser versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring attack that earned the harshest blame at Anfield. His defensive foundation has vanished.

Anonymous Performance from Key Forwards

Yes, Isak was mostly unnoticeable in the No 9 role and Salah again poor as his personal struggles continued versus the team he typically scores against. The Sweden player had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah missed a golden second-half opportunity facing the Kop and neither complain when their numbers were shown. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to net a second shortly after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat In Spite of Chances

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created numerous chances, Slot remarked. But it is not impossible with a backline in current state, as one opponent, another rival and now Manchester United have shown.

Backline Collapse Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive loss as Liverpool head coach, the first person to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have despaired at a backline effort that allowed United to take the initiative as well as their initial win at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the identical errors that the team's coaching staff had worked on solving following the international break, including yet another set-piece goal, it was a performance that totally undermined the title holders' second half recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Even with Uptick

Momentum was at last with the hosts when the substitute cancelled out the forward's quick breakthrough. Liverpool could feel one more last-minute win with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and United in retreat. Instead, it was a further last-gasp top-flight loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several opposition players free past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Rivals Excel

A powerful goal into the net that the player blazed over in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave the United manager the best win of his turbulent club reign. For all the criticism surrounding the coach it was his squad that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. The Liverpool side again appeared like strangers at times, particularly when allowing a set-piece score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League the current campaign.

Quick Opener Exposes Backline Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the start to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the first header from the captain, a probable consequence of having to pass two players to reach the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in space on the right. the defender was late to respond, Van Dijk slow to recover and mark the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured Alisson in net, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and ask why the whistle was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also question the concentration and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike means the team have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches so far, the last coming eight games ago at Burnley.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

United exposed the left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the away team's advantage. Sending the winger early versus Kerkez was obviously part of Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded repeatedly in the opening half. The £40 million new arrival from his former club endured a further tough match in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who nearly sent the forward through while attempting one interception. Kerkez and the captain appear on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” Slot explained following United’s victory. “Following the second half we had six or seven attacking players on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the set-piece was less organized as we typically are. Usually we would have additional defending personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”