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The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Anfield centre forward, the Liverpool head coach commented on Friday. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League champions attempted unsuccessfully to secure an leveler versus their rivals in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming forward line that warranted the fiercest scrutiny at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has vanished.

Quiet Display from Key Forwards

Indeed, Isak was largely anonymous in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his individual toils persisted against the team he usually scores against. The Sweden player had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the first half, excellently denied by United’s latest goalkeeper the young keeper. Salah missed a golden second-half opportunity facing the Kop and could not complain when their numbers came up. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably failed to net a another goal shortly after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Chances

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a game in which they created numerous opportunities, the manager stated. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have demonstrated.

Backline Breakdown During Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive loss as the club's head coach, the first person to do so since Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that invited the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on fixing after the international break, featuring yet another dead-ball goal, it was a display that totally derailed the title holders' after halftime comeback and lost them the game.

Momentum Squandered Despite Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. Liverpool could sense one more last-minute win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and United in retreat. Rather, it was another last-gasp Premier League loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three opposition members free behind the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A thumping header into the net that the player missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the best win of his challenging United reign. For all the negativity around the coach it was his team that performed with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling contest. The first back-to-back Premier League wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the outcome. Slot’s side again appeared like unfamiliar at points, especially when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Quick Goal Reveals Backline Issues

The home side were exposed from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the first header from the captain, a likely result of having to pass opponents to connect with the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and passed to the winger in open area on the right. the defender was slow to respond, Van Dijk delayed to recover and mark Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

Slot could justifiably point to his head and ask why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the focus and communication among his backline. The forward's goal means Slot’s side have managed only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the most recent coming eight games previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open the left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and even Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the away team's advantage. Sending the winger quickly versus the full-back was clearly in Amorim’s tactic. It succeeded repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured a further tough match in a Liverpool shirt. Set-pieces were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who almost sent Mbeumo in on goal while making one challenge. Kerkez and the captain seem on not in sync at present.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” Slot explained after the opposition's win. “Following the second half we had multiple offensive players on the pitch. That’s maybe why our structure for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Normally we would have more defending personnel on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”