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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a record-breaking Anfield centre forward, the Liverpool head coach stated on Friday. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s most expensive footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to secure an leveler versus their rivals without them, it was not Slot’s underperforming attack that warranted the harshest criticism at Anfield. His defensive foundation has disappeared.

Quiet Display from Key Attackers

Yes, Isak was mostly anonymous in the No 9 position and Salah again poor as his personal struggles continued against the club he typically plunders. The Sweden international had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's new goalkeeper the young keeper. The forward missed a excellent second-half chance in front of the home end and could not protest when their substitution were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the woodwork on multiple occasions and inexplicably failed to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It should have been impossible for the hosts to be defeated in a game in which they created so many chances, the manager remarked. But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, another rival and currently United have shown.

Backline Breakdown During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth consecutive loss as Liverpool manager, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have been frustrated at a backline effort that allowed United to dominate as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the repeated issues that the team's management had worked on fixing after the pause, including another dead-ball score, it was a performance that totally undermined the title holders' after halftime recovery and cost them the match.

Momentum Lost Even with Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the home side when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. The Merseyside club could sense one more last-minute win with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and the opposition in defensive mode. Instead, it was another last-gasp Premier League defeat, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three United members free past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Excel

A thumping goal into the goal that the player missed in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his turbulent United tenure. Despite the criticism surrounding Amorim it was his team that played with definite plan and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The first back-to-back Premier League victories of Amorim’s time in charge were the result. The Liverpool side again appeared like unfamiliar at points, especially when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the division this season.

Early Opener Exposes Defensive Issues

Liverpool were lacking from the inception to the finish of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to pass two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released the winger in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was slow to react, the centre-back slow to recover and mark Mbeumo’s run while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Questions

Slot could reasonably point to his head and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the concentration and communication levels his backline. Mbeumo’s goal means Slot’s side have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming many matches ago at another ground.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and even the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's advantage. Sending Diallo early against Kerkez was obviously part of Amorim’s strategy. It worked repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club experienced another difficult match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost sent the forward in on goal while making an challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on not in sync at present.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” Slot explained after the opposition's victory. “After the second half we had six or seven attacking members on the pitch. This is perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defending personnel on the field. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”