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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak justly as a record-breaking Anfield attacker, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. In that case, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's highest-priced footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the Premier League title holders attempted unsuccessfully to secure an equaliser against Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that warranted the strongest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's defensive foundation has vanished.

Anonymous Display from Star Attackers

Indeed, Isak was mostly anonymous in the centre-forward position and Salah disappointing again as his personal struggles continued versus the team he often scores against. The Swedish international had his first attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Reds player in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s new shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward wasted a excellent after the break chance facing the Kop and neither protest when their substitution were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar three times and somehow failed to score a second shortly after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It ought to have been unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a match in which they generated numerous opportunities, Slot claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, another rival and now United have shown.

Backline Breakdown Under Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth consecutive defeat as the club's head coach, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have despaired at a defence display that invited United to seize control as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Filled with the identical errors that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on solving after the international break, including another set-piece goal, it was a performance that totally undermined the champions’ after halftime recovery and cost them the match.

Advantage Lost Even with Improvement

Momentum was at last with the hosts when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. Liverpool could feel another late victory with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and another forward sparking progress and the opposition in retreat. Rather, it was another last-gasp Premier League defeat, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several opposition members free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A powerful header into the net that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's tie gave the United manager the best victory of his challenging United reign. Despite the negativity around Amorim it was his team that performed with clear purpose and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The first back-to-back league victories of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. Slot’s team again looked like strangers at points, particularly when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Opener Reveals Defensive Flaws

The home side were lacking from the inception to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to go through opponents to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to the winger in open area on the right flank. the defender was late to respond, the centre-back slow to track back and follow the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

Slot could reasonably point to his decisions and wonder why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and communication levels his backline. Mbeumo’s goal means the side have kept only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the last coming many matches ago at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

United carved open the left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ advantage. Releasing the winger quickly against the full-back was obviously in the manager's gameplan. It worked time and again in the opening half. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth experienced a further tough evening in a club jersey. Set-pieces were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost put Mbeumo through while attempting one interception. Kerkez and the captain seem on not in sync at present.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“We take a many gambles,” the head coach commented following the opposition's win. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking members on the pitch. That’s maybe why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have more defensive players on the field. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”