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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak equitably as a record-breaking Liverpool striker, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's highest-priced footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League champions tried in vain to secure an equaliser versus Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's misfiring offence that deserved the fiercest blame at Anfield. His defence has vanished.

Quiet Performance from Key Forwards

Indeed, Isak was largely quiet in the No 9 position and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils persisted against the team he often plunders. The Swedish player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's latest goalkeeper the young keeper. Salah missed a glorious after the break chance in front of the home end and could not complain when their substitution came up. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to score a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat Despite Opportunities

It seemed unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created so many chances, Slot stated. But it is possible with a defence in this form, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently United have proven.

Backline Collapse During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth straight loss as Liverpool head coach, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defence display that invited United to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that the team's management had focused on solving after the pause, including another set-piece score, it was a performance that completely derailed the title holders' after halftime recovery and lost them the game.

Advantage Squandered Even with Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the home side when the substitute cancelled out the forward's quick opener. The Merseyside club could sense another last-minute win with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and another forward sparking progress and United in retreat. Instead, it was another late Premier League loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s set-piece weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three United members unmarked behind the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Excel

A thumping goal into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his turbulent United tenure. Despite the negativity surrounding Amorim it was his squad that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the majority of a thrilling contest. The first back-to-back Premier League wins of the manager's reign were the result. Slot’s side again appeared like unfamiliar at times, especially when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Quick Goal Exposes Backline Issues

The home side were exposed from the start to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to go through opponents to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in open area on the right. the defender was late to respond, the centre-back delayed to track back and follow Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in goal, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Issues

The manager could reasonably question his head and ask why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and communication among his backline. The forward's goal means Slot’s team have kept only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming eight games previously at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

United carved open Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which Fernandes, another player and even the attacker all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ lead. Releasing the winger early against the full-back was obviously part of the manager's gameplan. It worked repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth endured another difficult match in a club jersey. Set-pieces were even a problem for the previous player's chosen successor, who almost put the forward in on goal while making an interception. Kerkez and the captain appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Coach's Explanation and Admission

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” Slot explained after the opposition's win. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking players on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have more defending personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”