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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Liverpool striker, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's costliest footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the English top-flight title holders struggled to secure an leveler versus their rivals without them, it was not Slot’s misfiring offence that earned the harshest blame at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has evaporated.

Anonymous Display from Key Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was mostly quiet in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his difficulties continued versus the team he typically scores against. The Sweden player had his first attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the first half, excellently denied by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a glorious second-half chance facing the Kop and neither complain when their substitution were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar three times and inexplicably failed to net a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Chances

It should have been impossible for the hosts to lose a match in which they created so many opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now Manchester United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth straight loss as the club's manager, the first man to do so after a previous manager in years past, Slot must have been frustrated at a defence display that invited United to seize control as well as their initial win at Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the repeated issues that the team's coaching staff had worked on eradicating following the pause, including another set-piece score, it was a performance that completely undermined the champions’ second half comeback and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Even with Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. Liverpool could feel one more late victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was another late Premier League loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself among several United members free past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A thumping header into the net that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the best victory of his turbulent United tenure. For all the negativity around Amorim it was his squad that played with clear purpose and a smartly implemented plan for the majority of a thrilling contest. The first consecutive Premier League victories of the manager's reign were the outcome. Slot’s team again appeared like unfamiliar at times, especially when allowing a set-piece score for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Early Goal Reveals Defensive Issues

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to go through two players to reach the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and passed to the winger in space on the right. the defender was slow to react, Van Dijk delayed to recover and mark Mbeumo’s run while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Issues

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and wonder why the whistle was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the concentration and coordination levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal means the team have kept only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the last coming many matches previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ lead. Releasing the winger early against the full-back was obviously in Amorim’s strategy. It worked repeatedly in the first half. The £40 million new arrival from Bournemouth experienced another tough match in a Liverpool shirt. Set-pieces were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly put the forward through while making one challenge. The defender and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a lot of risks,” Slot commented after United’s victory. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking members on the field. That’s maybe why our structure for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defending personnel on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”