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The time has come to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125m Liverpool striker, the Liverpool head coach commented on Friday. In that case, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s most expensive player sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to secure an leveler against Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's misfiring offence that earned the fiercest criticism at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has disappeared.

Quiet Display from Key Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and Salah again poor as his individual toils continued versus the team he usually scores against. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds member in the first half, well saved by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah squandered a golden second-half opportunity in front of the home end and could not complain when their substitution came up. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork three times and inexplicably failed to net a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Impossible Defeat In Spite of Chances

It ought to have been impossible for the hosts to lose a match in which they generated plenty of opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now United have demonstrated.

Defensive Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth straight defeat as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so since a previous manager in years past, the coach must have been frustrated at a defence display that allowed the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the identical errors that Liverpool’s coaching staff had focused on eradicating after the international break, including another set-piece goal, it was a performance that totally undermined the title holders' after halftime recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Lost Despite Uptick

Momentum was at last with the home side when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. Liverpool could sense one more late victory with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another late top-flight loss, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several United players free past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A thumping header into the goal that the player missed in the final moments of last season’s tie gave the United manager the finest win of his turbulent club reign. For all the negativity surrounding the coach it was his team that played with clear purpose and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a compelling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. The Liverpool team again looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Quick Opener Exposes Backline Issues

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second first goal. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to go through opponents to connect with the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released the winger in open area on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and mark the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Concentration Questions

The manager could justifiably point to his head and ask where the foul was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and communication levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s team have kept only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last coming eight games previously at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Defensive Side

The visitors carved open Liverpool’s left side repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ advantage. Releasing Diallo quickly versus the full-back was obviously in Amorim’s strategy. It worked time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth experienced another tough match in a club jersey. Set-pieces were even a problem for the previous player's chosen successor, who nearly sent Mbeumo in on goal while attempting an interception. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many risks,” Slot commented following United’s win. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven offensive members on the pitch. That’s maybe why our organization for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have more defensive players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”