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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125m Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot commented on the weekend. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s most expensive footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to secure an equaliser against their rivals in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming attack that earned the strongest scrutiny at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Key Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward role and Salah subpar once more as his personal struggles continued against the club he usually scores against. The Swedish player had his first attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden after the break opportunity in front of the Kop and could not protest when their numbers eventually. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably failed to score a second shortly after the defender's winner.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Chances

It ought to have been impossible for Liverpool to be defeated in a game in which they generated so many opportunities, Slot stated. But it is not impossible with a backline in such condition, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently United have shown.

Defensive Collapse During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth straight loss as the club's head coach, the first man to achieve this after a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have despaired at a backline effort that allowed United to seize control as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that the team's coaching staff had focused on solving after the pause, featuring yet another dead-ball score, it was a display that completely derailed the champions’ second half recovery and cost them the game.

Momentum Squandered Despite Improvement

Momentum was finally with the home side when Gakpo equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. Liverpool could sense one more late win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another late top-flight loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three opposition members free past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A powerful goal into the net that the player missed in the final moments of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his challenging club reign. Despite the criticism surrounding the coach it was his squad that played with clear purpose and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive league victories of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. Slot’s side again appeared like unfamiliar at times, especially when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the division this season.

Early Opener Reveals Backline Issues

The home side were exposed from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the initial header from the captain, a likely consequence of having to pass two players to reach the pass, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right. the defender was late to react, the centre-back slow to track back and follow the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

The manager could reasonably question his decisions and ask where the whistle was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the concentration and coordination among his backline. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s team have kept only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent occurring eight games previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a opening period in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's advantage. Releasing the winger early against the full-back was obviously part of Amorim’s gameplan. It worked time and again in the first half. The £40 million new arrival from his former club experienced another tough evening in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who nearly put Mbeumo through while making an challenge. Kerkez and the captain appear on not in sync at the moment.

Manager’s Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many risks,” Slot explained after the opposition's victory. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking members on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defensive players on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to do better.”