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It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Liverpool attacker, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s most expensive footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League champions struggled to force an equaliser versus their rivals without them, it was not the manager's underperforming offence that earned the harshest scrutiny at Anfield. His backline structure has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was mostly anonymous in the centre-forward role and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils continued against the team he usually plunders. The Swedish player had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the first half, smartly stopped by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden second-half opportunity in front of the Kop and neither protest when their substitution came up. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar three times and inexplicably failed to net a second moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a game in which they generated plenty of chances, Slot remarked. But it is possible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, another rival and currently Manchester United have shown.

Backline Breakdown Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as Liverpool manager, the first person to do so since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defence display that invited United to take the initiative as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the identical errors that the team's management had worked on fixing after the pause, including another dead-ball goal, it was a display that completely undermined the title holders' second half comeback and cost them the game.

Momentum Lost Even with Improvement

Momentum was at last with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early opener. The Merseyside club could feel another late win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting improvement and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further last-gasp top-flight loss, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself among several opposition players free past Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Excel

A thumping goal into the net that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest victory of his challenging club reign. For all the negativity around the coach it was his squad that performed with definite plan and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The initial back-to-back league victories of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. Slot’s team once more looked like unfamiliar at points, particularly when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the division this season.

Early Goal Reveals Backline Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the start to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the initial attempt from the captain, a probable result of having to go through two players to reach the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released the winger in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to react, the centre-back delayed to track back and follow the forward's run while the goalkeeper, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Questions

Slot could reasonably question his decisions and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and communication levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s team have kept only two shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last coming eight games previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed the left side frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and also Gakpo all came close to doubling the away team's lead. Sending Diallo quickly versus the full-back was clearly part of Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth endured another tough match in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly sent Mbeumo through while attempting an challenge. The defender and Van Dijk appear on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” the head coach commented after the opposition's victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven offensive players on the pitch. This is perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Usually we would have more defensive personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”