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It is now appropriate to begin evaluating Alexander Isak justly as a £125 million Liverpool attacker, the Liverpool head coach commented on Friday. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's costliest footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the Premier League champions attempted unsuccessfully to force an equaliser versus their rivals without them, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that warranted the fiercest criticism at Anfield. His backline structure has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Star Forwards

Yes, the Swedish striker was largely unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and Salah disappointing again as his personal struggles persisted against the club he typically scores against. The Swedish international had his first attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a golden second-half chance in front of the Kop and neither complain when their numbers eventually. The Dutch attacker also struck the woodwork on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to score a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It should have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created plenty of opportunities, Slot claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have proven.

Defensive Collapse During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth consecutive loss as Liverpool manager, the first man to achieve this since a previous manager in years past, the coach must have despaired at a defence display that invited United to seize control as well as their initial win at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on solving following the international break, featuring yet another dead-ball goal, it was a display that completely undermined the champions’ second half recovery and lost them the game.

Momentum Squandered Despite Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. Liverpool could feel one more late victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa igniting improvement and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three opposition players free past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Excel

A powerful header into the net that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his turbulent United reign. For all the negativity surrounding the coach it was his squad that played with clear purpose and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The first back-to-back Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. Slot’s team again appeared like strangers at times, especially when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Quick Goal Exposes Defensive Issues

The home side were exposed from the start to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to pass opponents to reach the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released the winger in open area on the right flank. the defender was late to react, the centre-back delayed to recover and mark Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and ask why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike means the side have kept only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Defensive Side

United carved open the left side repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the away team's lead. Sending the winger early against Kerkez was obviously part of the manager's gameplan. It worked time and again in the opening half. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured another difficult evening in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were even a problem for the previous player's replacement, who nearly put Mbeumo in on goal while attempting one challenge. The defender and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many risks,” the head coach commented following United’s victory. “After the second half we had six or seven offensive players on the pitch. This is perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have more defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”