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It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Liverpool striker, the Liverpool head coach stated on the weekend. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s highest-priced footballer was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to secure an equaliser against their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming attack that earned the fiercest criticism at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has vanished.

Anonymous Performance from Star Forwards

Yes, Isak was largely anonymous in the centre-forward role and Salah disappointing again as his personal struggles persisted versus the team he usually plunders. The Sweden player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds member in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's new shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward wasted a excellent after the break opportunity facing the Kop and neither protest when their substitution came up. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar three times and somehow failed to net a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Opportunities

It should have been impossible for the hosts to be defeated in a game in which they generated plenty of opportunities, Slot stated. But it is possible with a backline in current state, as Crystal Palace, another rival and now Manchester United have proven.

Backline Breakdown Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth consecutive defeat as the club's head coach, the first man to achieve this since a previous manager in years past, the coach must have despaired at a defensive performance that allowed United to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had focused on fixing after the international break, featuring yet another set-piece score, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' second half comeback and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Even with Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the home side when the substitute cancelled out the forward's quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense another late win with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting improvement and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another late Premier League defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself one of three United members unmarked behind Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A thumping header into the net that the player missed in the final moments of last season’s tie gave the United manager the finest victory of his turbulent United reign. For all the criticism around Amorim it was his team that played with definite plan and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the outcome. The Liverpool team once more appeared like unfamiliar at points, especially when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth time in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Opener Exposes Backline Issues

Liverpool were exposed from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was little impact on the first attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to pass two players to connect with the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and released Amad Diallo in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, Van Dijk delayed to recover and mark the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

The manager could justifiably question his decisions and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also doubt the focus and coordination levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike means the team have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming eight games previously at another ground.

Constant Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors carved open the left flank frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even the attacker all nearly scored to increasing the away team's advantage. Sending Diallo early versus Kerkez was obviously in the manager's tactic. It worked repeatedly in the opening half. The £40 million summer signing from his former club experienced a further tough evening in a club shirt. Throw-ins were even a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly put the forward through while making one challenge. Kerkez and the captain appear on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a many risks,” Slot explained following United’s win. “Following the second half we had multiple offensive players on the field. This is maybe why our structure for the set-piece was less organized as we typically are. Normally we would have more defending personnel on the field. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to do better.”