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It is now appropriate to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a £125m Anfield centre forward, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. In that case, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's most expensive player sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to force an leveler against Manchester United without them, it was not Slot’s misfiring offence that deserved the harshest criticism at the stadium. His defensive foundation has disappeared.

Anonymous Display from Star Forwards

Indeed, Isak was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward position and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils persisted against the club he often plunders. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, excellently denied by the opposition's latest goalkeeper the young keeper. Salah squandered a excellent after the break opportunity facing the home end and neither complain when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar three times and inexplicably was unable to net a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Chances

It should have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated numerous opportunities, Slot remarked. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have proven.

Defensive Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth consecutive loss as the club's head coach, the first person to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have despaired at a backline effort that invited the visitors to dominate as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that the team's management had worked on fixing after the pause, featuring yet another dead-ball score, it was a performance that totally derailed the champions’ second half comeback and cost them the game.

Advantage Lost Even with Improvement

Momentum was at last with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early breakthrough. Liverpool could feel another last-minute win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward igniting progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was a further last-gasp top-flight loss, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three opposition members free past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A thumping goal into the net that Maguire missed in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest win of his challenging club tenure. Despite the criticism surrounding the coach it was his team that played with obvious strategy and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The first consecutive Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. The Liverpool team again looked like strangers at points, particularly when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the division the current campaign.

Early Opener Reveals Defensive Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the start to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire opener. There was no purchase on the first header from the captain, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to connect with the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he received the ball and passed to the winger in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk delayed to recover and mark Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

Slot could justifiably point to his head and ask where the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also doubt the focus and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal means Slot’s team have kept only two clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the last occurring many matches previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open the left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all came close to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo early against the full-back was clearly part of the manager's tactic. It worked time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth endured a further tough evening in a Liverpool jersey. Set-pieces were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost sent Mbeumo in on goal while attempting one challenge. The defender and the captain seem on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“We take a lot of gambles,” Slot commented after the opposition's victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking members 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 defensive personnel on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”