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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak justly as a £125 million Anfield striker, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, 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 against their rivals in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring forward line that earned the fiercest blame at the stadium. His defensive foundation has evaporated.

Anonymous Display from Key Forwards

Indeed, Isak was largely quiet in the No 9 position and Salah again poor as his difficulties persisted versus the team he often plunders. The Sweden international had his initial attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Reds player in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s new shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah wasted a glorious after the break chance in front of the home end and could not complain when their numbers were shown. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar three times and inexplicably was unable to score a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Chances

It should have been unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created so many chances, the manager remarked. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as one opponent, Chelsea and now Manchester United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as the club's head coach, the first man to achieve this since Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that allowed the visitors to dominate as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had focused on solving following the pause, including another set-piece goal, it was a display that totally derailed the title holders' after halftime recovery and cost them the game.

Momentum Lost Even with Uptick

Momentum was finally with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense another last-minute win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa igniting improvement and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further last-gasp top-flight loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several opposition members free past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Excel

A powerful header into the net that the player missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his challenging United reign. Despite the negativity around Amorim it was his squad that played with obvious strategy and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The first back-to-back league wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. The Liverpool team once more appeared like unfamiliar at points, particularly when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Early Opener Exposes Backline Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the inception to the finish of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to reach the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and released the winger in open area on the right. the defender was late to respond, the centre-back slow to track back and mark the forward's movement while the goalkeeper, filling in for the injured Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Questions

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and wonder why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also question the concentration and communication levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal indicates the side have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last occurring eight games ago at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors exposed the left side frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all came close to doubling the away team's advantage. Releasing the winger quickly against Kerkez was clearly part of Amorim’s tactic. It worked time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from his former club experienced another difficult evening in a Liverpool jersey. Set-pieces were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost put the forward through while making one interception. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” the head coach commented after the opposition's victory. “Following the second half we had six or seven attacking members on the field. This is perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have more defensive players on the pitch. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”