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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak justly as a record-breaking Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s most expensive footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an equaliser versus Manchester United without them, it was not Slot’s misfiring offence that warranted the fiercest criticism at the stadium. The team's backline structure has vanished.

Anonymous Performance from Star Attackers

Indeed, Isak was largely anonymous in the centre-forward role and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils persisted against the club he often plunders. The Swedish player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds player in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a excellent second-half chance facing the home end and neither complain when their substitution were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to score a second shortly after the defender's winner.

Unthinkable Defeat In Spite of Opportunities

It should have been impossible for the hosts to lose a game in which they created plenty of opportunities, Slot stated. But it is not impossible with a backline in such condition, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently United have proven.

Defensive Collapse During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth consecutive defeat as the club's manager, the first person to achieve this after a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have despaired at a defensive performance that invited United to take the initiative as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the identical errors that the team's management had worked on eradicating following the pause, including another set-piece score, it was a display that totally undermined the champions’ second half comeback and lost them the match.

Momentum Lost Even with Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. Liverpool could feel one more last-minute win with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and another forward igniting progress and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third straight, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself among several United players unmarked past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A thumping goal into the net that the player missed in the final moments of last season’s tie gave the United manager the finest win of his turbulent club tenure. Despite the negativity surrounding the coach it was his team that played with clear purpose and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a compelling contest. The initial consecutive league wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the result. The Liverpool team once more appeared like unfamiliar at points, particularly when allowing a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Quick Goal Reveals Defensive Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was little impact on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to pass two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and released Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. the defender was slow to respond, the centre-back delayed to recover and follow Mbeumo’s run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the injured Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

The manager could justifiably question his head and ask where the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty past, but also question the focus and coordination levels his defenders. The forward's goal indicates Slot’s side have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming eight games ago at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed the left flank frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ lead. Sending the winger early versus Kerkez was obviously in the manager's strategy. It succeeded time and again in the first half. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced another difficult match in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly sent Mbeumo through while attempting an interception. Kerkez and the captain appear on not in sync at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“We take a lot of risks,” the head coach commented after United’s win. “After the second half we had six or seven attacking members on the field. That’s perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have more defensive players on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”