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Now is the moment to begin evaluating Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Anfield attacker, the Liverpool head coach commented on Friday. Therefore, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League champions struggled to force an leveler against Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's misfiring attack that warranted the harshest scrutiny at the stadium. His defensive foundation has vanished.

Anonymous Performance from Star Forwards

Indeed, Isak was largely unnoticeable in the No 9 role and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his personal struggles persisted versus the club he typically scores against. The Swedish international had his initial attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool member in the first half, well saved by United’s latest goalkeeper the young keeper. The forward missed a excellent second-half chance in front of the home end and neither protest when their numbers eventually. Cody Gakpo also hit the crossbar three times and somehow was unable to net a second shortly after the defender's winner.

Unthinkable Defeat In Spite of Chances

It ought to have been unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created plenty of chances, Slot stated. But it is possible with a backline in current state, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently Manchester United have proven.

Backline Collapse Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth straight defeat as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so after a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have been frustrated at a backline effort that allowed United to seize control as well as their initial win at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had focused on solving after the pause, including another set-piece score, it was a performance that completely derailed the champions’ after halftime recovery and lost them the game.

Advantage Lost Even with Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early opener. Liverpool could feel one more last-minute win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting improvement and the opposition in retreat. Rather, it was another last-gasp Premier League defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s set-piece weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United members free behind the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Excel

A thumping goal into the goal that Maguire missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest win of his challenging club tenure. Despite the criticism around 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 victories of the manager's reign were the result. The Liverpool side again appeared like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Early Opener Exposes Backline Flaws

The home side were exposed from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was no purchase on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to go through two players to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and passed to the winger in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to react, Van Dijk slow to recover and follow the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Issues

Slot could reasonably point to his decisions and ask why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the concentration and communication levels his backline. The forward's strike indicates the team have managed only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the most recent coming eight games previously at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Defensive Side

United exposed Liverpool’s left side frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and even the attacker all came close to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Sending Diallo early versus Kerkez was obviously in Amorim’s tactic. It succeeded time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from Bournemouth endured another difficult match in a club jersey. Throw-ins were also a issue for the previous player's chosen successor, who nearly sent Mbeumo through while attempting an interception. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a lot of risks,” the head coach commented after the opposition's victory. “Following the second half we had six or seven offensive players on the field. This is perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defensive players on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”