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Now is the moment to begin evaluating Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Anfield striker, Arne Slot commented on Friday. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League title holders attempted unsuccessfully to secure an equaliser against their rivals in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring offence that deserved the fiercest blame at the stadium. His defence has evaporated.

Anonymous Performance from Key Attackers

Yes, Isak was largely quiet in the No 9 position and Salah again poor as his difficulties continued against the team he often scores against. The Swedish international had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Reds player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a glorious second-half opportunity facing the Kop and could not protest when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to net a another goal shortly after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Chances

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created so many opportunities, Slot claimed. But it is not impossible with a backline in this form, as Crystal Palace, another rival and now Manchester United have shown.

Backline Breakdown During Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive loss as Liverpool manager, the first man to achieve this since a previous manager in November 2014, Slot must have despaired at a defence display that invited the visitors to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that the team's management had worked on solving following the international break, including yet another dead-ball goal, it was a display that totally derailed the title holders' after halftime comeback and lost them the match.

Advantage Lost Even with Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. Liverpool could sense another late victory with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and another forward sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another late Premier League defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several opposition members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Excel

A thumping goal into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest victory of his challenging United reign. For all the criticism surrounding Amorim it was his team that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a compelling contest. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the result. Slot’s team once more looked like unfamiliar at points, particularly when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the division this season.

Early Goal Exposes Backline Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the inception to the finish of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was no purchase on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to pass opponents to connect with the ball, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released the winger in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to react, the centre-back delayed to recover and follow the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

Slot could reasonably question his decisions and ask where the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also question the focus and coordination levels his backline. Mbeumo’s strike indicates the team have managed only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the most recent coming many matches previously at Burnley.

Constant Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors carved open the left side frequently in a opening period in which Fernandes, another player and even Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the away team's lead. Sending Diallo early against the full-back was obviously in Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured another tough match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were also a problem for the previous player's replacement, who almost sent the forward through while attempting an challenge. The defender and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a many risks,” the head coach commented following the opposition's win. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking players on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have more defensive personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”