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It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Liverpool attacker, the Liverpool head coach remarked on Friday. In that case, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's costliest player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League title holders attempted unsuccessfully to secure an leveler against Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's misfiring offence that deserved the fiercest blame at the stadium. His backline structure has vanished.

Anonymous Display from Star Forwards

Indeed, Isak was largely quiet in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his individual toils persisted against the club he typically plunders. The Sweden player had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Reds member in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s new shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah missed a golden second-half opportunity in front of the home end and neither protest when their numbers eventually. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar three times and somehow was unable to net a second moments after the defender's winner.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Opportunities

It ought to have been unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they created numerous opportunities, Slot claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have demonstrated.

Backline Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth straight loss as the club's head coach, the first man to achieve this after a previous manager in years past, Slot must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that invited the visitors to take the initiative as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on eradicating following the international break, featuring yet another dead-ball score, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' after halftime recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the home side when the substitute cancelled out the forward's quick opener. Liverpool could sense one more last-minute win with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa igniting progress and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another late top-flight loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several United players free behind the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A powerful header into the net that Maguire missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave the United manager the best win of his challenging United reign. Despite the criticism around Amorim it was his team that played with obvious strategy and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The first consecutive Premier League victories of the manager's reign were the outcome. Slot’s team again appeared like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Early Opener Reveals Backline Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the start to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the first attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to go through opponents to connect with the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, the centre-back delayed to recover and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the injured Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Questions

The manager could reasonably point to his decisions and ask where the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and communication among his backline. Mbeumo’s goal indicates the team have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the most recent occurring eight games previously at another ground.

Repeated Exploitation of Defensive Side

United exposed Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's advantage. Releasing Diallo early against Kerkez was clearly in Amorim’s tactic. It worked repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million new arrival from Bournemouth endured a further difficult evening in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were also a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly sent the forward in on goal while attempting one challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of risks,” Slot commented following United’s victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven offensive members on the pitch. This is perhaps why our structure for the set-piece was less organized as we typically are. Usually we would have more defending personnel on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”