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Now is the moment to begin evaluating Alexander Isak justly as a record-breaking Liverpool attacker, Arne Slot commented on Friday. Therefore, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League champions tried in vain to secure an leveler against their rivals without them, it was not Slot’s misfiring forward line that earned the harshest blame at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has evaporated.

Anonymous Performance from Star Attackers

Indeed, Isak was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward position and Salah again poor as his difficulties continued versus the team he typically scores against. The Swedish international had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool player in the first half, well saved by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden after the break opportunity facing the home end and neither complain when their numbers came up. Cody Gakpo also struck the woodwork three times and somehow failed to score a second moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat In Spite of Chances

It ought to have been impossible for the hosts to lose a match in which they generated numerous chances, Slot stated. But it is possible with a backline in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have demonstrated.

Backline Breakdown During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as Liverpool head coach, the first person to do so since Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have despaired at a defensive performance that allowed United to seize control as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that the team's coaching staff had focused on solving after the international break, featuring yet another set-piece score, it was a display that totally derailed the title holders' after halftime recovery and lost them the game.

Momentum Lost Despite Improvement

Momentum was finally with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel another late victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa igniting progress and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was another last-gasp Premier League loss, the third straight, after the team's set-piece frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three United players free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Excel

A powerful goal into the net that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his turbulent club tenure. Despite the criticism around Amorim it was his team that played with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The first consecutive Premier League victories of Amorim’s reign were the result. The Liverpool team once more appeared like unfamiliar at points, especially when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the division this season.

Early Goal Reveals Backline Issues

The home side were exposed from the start to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to pass opponents to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and passed to the winger in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, the centre-back delayed to track back and mark Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Issues

The manager could reasonably question his head and wonder why the whistle was from the referee, an official with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the concentration and communication levels his defenders. The forward's strike indicates the side have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming many matches ago at Burnley.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

United exposed Liverpool’s left side repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all came close to doubling the visitors’ advantage. Sending the winger early against the full-back was obviously part of Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded time and again in the first half. The £40 million new arrival from Bournemouth experienced a further tough evening in a club shirt. Set-pieces were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost put the forward in on goal while attempting one challenge. The defender and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a lot of risks,” the head coach commented after the opposition's win. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking players on the field. This is maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”