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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Anfield centre forward, Arne Slot commented on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's most expensive footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the English top-flight title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an leveler against their rivals without them, it was not Slot’s underperforming attack that earned the harshest criticism at Anfield. His backline structure has vanished.

Quiet Display from Key Attackers

Indeed, Isak was predominantly unnoticeable in the centre-forward position and the Egyptian winger again poor as his personal struggles continued versus the club he usually scores against. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a excellent second-half opportunity facing the home end and neither complain when their substitution eventually. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow failed to net a second moments after the defender's winner.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Chances

It ought to have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated so many chances, Slot remarked. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, another rival and now Manchester United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown Under Pressure

While overseeing a fourth successive loss as Liverpool manager, the first man to achieve this since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have despaired at a defensive performance that allowed United to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground since January 2016. Filled with the identical errors that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on solving following the pause, featuring another set-piece score, it was a display that totally undermined the title holders' after halftime comeback and cost them the match.

Advantage Squandered Even with Uptick

Momentum was at last with the home side when the substitute equalized the forward's early breakthrough. Liverpool could feel another late win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward sparking improvement and United in retreat. Rather, it was another late top-flight loss, the third straight, after the team's set-piece weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three opposition members unmarked past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A powerful goal into the net that the player blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his challenging club tenure. Despite the negativity surrounding Amorim it was his team that played with definite plan and a well-executed plan for the majority of a thrilling contest. The initial back-to-back league wins of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. Slot’s team again appeared like strangers at times, especially when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Early Opener Reveals Backline Issues

Liverpool were lacking from the inception to the finish of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was no purchase on the first header from the captain, a probable consequence of having to go through opponents to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to the winger in space on the right flank. the defender was slow to respond, the centre-back slow to track back and mark the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Questions

The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and ask why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the focus and communication levels his defenders. The forward's goal indicates the side have kept only two clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the last occurring many matches previously at another ground.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed the left side repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and even the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's advantage. Releasing Diallo quickly against the full-back was clearly in Amorim’s tactic. It succeeded time and again in the opening half. The £40m summer signing from his former club endured a further tough evening in a club jersey. Set-pieces were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly sent the forward through while attempting an interception. Kerkez and the captain appear on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a many risks,” Slot commented following United’s victory. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking players on the pitch. This is perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have more defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”