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The time has come to start judging Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Anfield attacker, Arne Slot commented on Friday. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's most expensive footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an leveler versus Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's underperforming attack that warranted the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. His defence has vanished.

Anonymous Display from Star Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was mostly anonymous in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his personal struggles continued versus the club he typically plunders. The Sweden player had his first attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Reds member in the first half, well saved by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah missed a glorious second-half chance in front of the home end and could not protest when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It should have been impossible for the hosts to lose a match in which they generated so many opportunities, Slot remarked. But it is not impossible with a backline in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now United have shown.

Defensive Breakdown During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth consecutive loss as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so after a previous manager in November 2014, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defence display that allowed United to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground since January 2016. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s management had focused on solving following the pause, including yet another dead-ball score, it was a display that totally undermined the title holders' after halftime recovery and cost them the game.

Momentum Lost Even with Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the home side when the substitute equalized the forward's quick opener. The Merseyside club could feel one more late victory with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three United players free past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A powerful goal into the goal that Maguire missed in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his turbulent club tenure. For all the negativity surrounding Amorim it was his team that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The first consecutive league wins of the manager's time in charge were the outcome. The Liverpool team once more appeared like strangers at times, especially when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth occasion in the division the current campaign.

Quick Opener Reveals Defensive Flaws

The home side were lacking from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the first attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to go through opponents to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released the winger in space on the right flank. the defender was slow to respond, the centre-back slow to recover and mark the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Issues

The manager could justifiably point to his head and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his backline. Mbeumo’s goal indicates Slot’s team have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the last occurring eight games previously at another ground.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

The visitors carved open the left flank frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and even the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's advantage. Releasing Diallo quickly against the full-back was obviously in Amorim’s tactic. It worked time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from his former club endured another difficult evening in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly sent Mbeumo in on goal while making an interception. Kerkez and the captain appear on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“We take a many gambles,” Slot commented after the opposition's victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had multiple offensive members on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Usually we would have more defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”