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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a £125m Liverpool attacker, the Liverpool head coach commented on the weekend. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's most expensive player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an leveler versus Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's underperforming forward line that warranted the fiercest criticism at Anfield. His backline structure has evaporated.

Quiet Performance from Key Forwards

Yes, Isak was mostly unnoticeable in the No 9 position and Salah disappointing again as his personal struggles persisted against the club he typically scores against. The Swedish international had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward wasted a golden second-half chance facing the home end and could not complain when their substitution came up. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and somehow failed to net a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated plenty of opportunities, the manager stated. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, another rival and currently United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth consecutive loss as the club's head coach, the first person to achieve this since a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defence display that invited United to seize control as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the same mistakes that the team's management had focused on eradicating following the international break, featuring yet another dead-ball score, it was a display that totally derailed the title holders' after halftime recovery and cost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. Liverpool could sense another late victory with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa igniting improvement and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several opposition players free past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A powerful goal into the goal that Maguire missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his turbulent United reign. For all the negativity around the coach it was his team that performed with clear purpose and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The first consecutive Premier League wins of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. Slot’s team once more appeared like strangers at points, especially when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Quick Goal Exposes Defensive Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the inception to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to pass two players to connect with the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to react, the centre-back slow to recover and follow the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Concentration Questions

Slot could reasonably question his decisions and ask why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also question the focus and communication levels his defenders. The forward's strike indicates the team have kept only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent coming eight games ago at another ground.

Constant Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors carved open the left side frequently in a opening period in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's advantage. Releasing Diallo early against Kerkez was obviously in the manager's tactic. It succeeded time and again in the first 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth experienced another tough match in a Liverpool shirt. Set-pieces were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost put Mbeumo in on goal while attempting one interception. Kerkez and the captain seem on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“We take a many risks,” the head coach commented after United’s victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking members on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”