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The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Liverpool striker, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's most expensive footballer was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League champions struggled to secure an leveler against their rivals without them, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that deserved the harshest criticism at Anfield. His backline structure has evaporated.

Anonymous Display from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly anonymous in the centre-forward role and Salah disappointing again as his personal struggles continued against the club he usually plunders. The Swedish player had his first shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s new shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward squandered a golden after the break chance in front of the home end and neither complain when their numbers eventually. Cody Gakpo also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to score a second shortly after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Chances

It ought to have been unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they generated numerous chances, the manager remarked. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have proven.

Backline Collapse During Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as the club's manager, the first person to do so after Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defence display that invited the visitors to take the initiative as well as their first victory at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on solving after the pause, featuring yet another set-piece goal, it was a display that completely undermined the title holders' after halftime recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Even with Uptick

Momentum was at last with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early opener. Liverpool could sense another late win with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa igniting progress and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another last-gasp top-flight loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself among several United members unmarked past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Outperform

A thumping goal into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his challenging United reign. Despite the criticism around Amorim it was his squad that played with obvious strategy and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The initial back-to-back league wins of Amorim’s reign were the result. Slot’s side once more looked like unfamiliar at points, particularly when allowing a set-piece score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Opener Reveals Backline Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the start to the finish of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was little impact on the first attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to connect with the pass, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he received the ball and passed to the winger in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was slow to react, the centre-back slow to track back and follow Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could reasonably point to his decisions and wonder why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty past, but also question the focus and coordination among his backline. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s team have managed only a couple of shutouts in a dozen games so far, the last coming eight games ago at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Releasing Diallo quickly versus the full-back was obviously part of the manager's gameplan. It worked repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from his former club experienced a further tough evening in a club shirt. Set-pieces were also a issue for the previous player's replacement, who almost put Mbeumo through while making an interception. The defender and Van Dijk appear on not in sync at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” the head coach explained following the opposition's win. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven offensive players on the field. That’s perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have more defensive personnel on the pitch. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”