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The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Liverpool striker, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s most expensive footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to secure an equaliser against Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring forward line that deserved the strongest blame at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has disappeared.

Quiet Display from Star Attackers

Yes, Isak was mostly anonymous in the No 9 position and Salah again poor as his personal struggles persisted against the team he usually scores against. The Swedish international had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Reds member in the first half, well saved by the opposition's new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a excellent second-half chance facing the home end and could not complain when their substitution eventually. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork three times and inexplicably failed to net a second moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Chances

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a game in which they created so many opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now Manchester United have shown.

Backline Collapse Under Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth consecutive defeat as Liverpool manager, the first person to achieve this since a previous manager in years past, Slot must have despaired at a defensive performance that invited United to seize control as well as their first victory at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the identical errors that the team's management had focused on solving after the international break, including yet another dead-ball score, it was a performance that completely derailed the title holders' second half comeback and cost them the match.

Momentum Lost Even with Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the hosts when Gakpo equalized the forward's quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel another last-minute win with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting progress and United in retreat. Rather, it was a further late Premier League defeat, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three United players unmarked past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Excel

A powerful goal into the net that Maguire blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his turbulent club tenure. For all the negativity around the coach it was his team that performed with obvious strategy and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the result. The Liverpool side again looked like strangers at points, especially when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the division this season.

Early Goal Reveals Backline Flaws

The home side were lacking from the inception to the execution of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was little impact on the initial header from the captain, a probable consequence of having to go through two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and released Amad Diallo in open area on the right. the defender was slow to respond, the centre-back slow to track back and follow the forward's run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Concentration Questions

The manager could reasonably point to his head and ask why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also question the concentration and communication levels his backline. The forward's strike indicates the team have kept only a couple of shutouts in a dozen games so far, the most recent coming eight games previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open Liverpool’s left side repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and even Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo quickly versus Kerkez was clearly in the manager's gameplan. It worked repeatedly in the first half. The £40m summer signing from his former club endured a further tough evening in a club jersey. Set-pieces were even a problem for the previous player's chosen successor, who almost sent Mbeumo in on goal while making one challenge. The defender and the captain appear on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many risks,” the head coach commented following the opposition's victory. “Following the second half we had multiple offensive players on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defensive personnel on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”