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It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Liverpool centre forward, the Liverpool head coach remarked on Friday. In that case, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's highest-priced footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight champions attempted unsuccessfully to secure an leveler against their rivals in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming offence that warranted the harshest criticism at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Key Forwards

Yes, the Swedish striker was largely quiet in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger again poor as his personal struggles persisted against the team he usually plunders. The Swedish player had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds member in the 35th minute, well saved by the opposition's latest goalkeeper the young keeper. Salah wasted a excellent after the break chance in front of the home end and neither complain when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork three times and inexplicably failed to score a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Chances

It should have been unthinkable for the hosts to lose a game in which they generated plenty of opportunities, Slot stated. But it is not impossible with a backline in this form, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently United have shown.

Defensive Breakdown Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth consecutive defeat as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have been frustrated at a backline effort that invited United to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on fixing following the pause, featuring yet another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' second half recovery and cost them the game.

Advantage Squandered Even with Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the home side when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense another last-minute win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further last-gasp Premier League loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United members free past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A powerful header into the net that the player blazed over in the final moments of last season’s tie gave the United manager the best victory of his challenging club tenure. For all the negativity around the coach it was his team that played with definite plan and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a compelling contest. The initial back-to-back league wins of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. Slot’s side once more looked like strangers at times, particularly when allowing a set-piece score for the fifth time in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Goal 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 header from the captain, a probable consequence of having to pass opponents to reach the ball, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and released the winger in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, the centre-back slow to track back and follow the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

The manager could reasonably question his head and ask why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and coordination among his backline. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s team have managed only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the last coming eight games ago at another ground.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors carved open the left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even the attacker all nearly scored to increasing the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo quickly against the full-back was obviously part of Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced another difficult match in a club jersey. Throw-ins were even a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who nearly put the forward through while attempting one challenge. The defender and Van Dijk appear on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“We take a many gambles,” the head coach commented after the opposition's win. “After the second half we had six or seven attacking members on the pitch. This is perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defensive players on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”