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It is now appropriate to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Anfield centre forward, the Liverpool head coach commented on the weekend. As such, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s most expensive footballer sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to secure an equaliser against Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming forward line that deserved the harshest criticism at Anfield. His defensive foundation has disappeared.

Quiet Performance from Key Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly quiet in the No 9 position and Salah again poor as his personal struggles continued versus the team he often plunders. The Sweden player had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds player in the first half, excellently denied by the opposition's latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward squandered a golden after the break opportunity in front of the home end and neither protest when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar three times and somehow was unable to net a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Impossible Defeat Despite Chances

It should have been impossible for the hosts to lose a game in which they generated numerous chances, Slot claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, Chelsea and now Manchester United have shown.

Backline Breakdown During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth consecutive loss as Liverpool head coach, the first man to achieve this since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defence display that invited the visitors to take the initiative as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had focused on solving following the international break, featuring yet another set-piece goal, it was a display that completely derailed the title holders' after halftime comeback and lost them the match.

Advantage Lost Despite Uptick

Momentum was finally with the hosts when Gakpo equalized the forward's early breakthrough. Liverpool could sense one more last-minute victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting improvement and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further last-gasp top-flight loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three opposition members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A thumping header into the net that the player missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's tie gave the United manager the finest win of his turbulent club tenure. For all the criticism around Amorim it was his team that performed with obvious strategy and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The first back-to-back Premier League wins of the manager's reign were the outcome. The Liverpool team again appeared like strangers at times, especially when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the division this season.

Quick Opener Reveals Defensive Flaws

Liverpool were found wanting from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the initial header from the captain, a likely result of having to go through two players to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to the winger in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to recover and mark the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Questions

The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and ask why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the concentration and coordination among his backline. Mbeumo’s goal means the side have kept only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the last coming eight games previously at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and even Gakpo all came close to doubling the visitors’ advantage. Releasing the winger early versus the full-back was clearly part of the manager's tactic. It worked repeatedly in the opening half. The £40m new arrival from his former club endured a further difficult match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly put the forward in on goal while making an interception. The defender and the captain seem on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” the head coach explained following the opposition's victory. “Following the second half we had multiple offensive members on the field. This is maybe why our organization for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have more defensive personnel on the pitch. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”