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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a record-breaking Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot commented on Friday. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s costliest footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the Premier League champions struggled to force an leveler against their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring offence that warranted the strongest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's defence has disappeared.

Anonymous Display from Star Attackers

Yes, Isak was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward role and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils continued against the club he typically plunders. The Sweden player had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the first half, well saved by United’s latest shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward wasted a glorious second-half 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 somehow was unable to score 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 created plenty of chances, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have proven.

Backline Collapse During Pressure

As he presided over a fourth straight loss as the club's manager, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defence display that allowed the visitors to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground since January 2016. Filled with the identical errors that Liverpool’s management had worked on solving following the pause, including yet another dead-ball score, it was a performance that totally derailed the champions’ second half comeback and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Even with Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's quick opener. Liverpool could sense another late victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward sparking improvement and United in retreat. Rather, it was another late Premier League loss, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several United members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Opposition Excel

A thumping header into the goal that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his turbulent club reign. Despite the criticism around Amorim it was his team that performed 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 result. Slot’s side again looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Early Opener Exposes Backline Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was little impact on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to reach the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to the winger in open area on the right flank. the defender was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and mark the forward's movement while the goalkeeper, filling in for the injured Alisson in net, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Issues

The manager could justifiably point to his head and wonder why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also doubt the focus and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike indicates the team have kept only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games this season, the most recent coming many matches previously at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Left Flank

United exposed the left flank repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's advantage. Releasing the winger quickly versus Kerkez was clearly in Amorim’s tactic. It succeeded repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from Bournemouth experienced a further difficult match in a club jersey. Set-pieces were even a problem for the previous player's replacement, who almost put the forward through while making one challenge. Kerkez and the captain seem on not in sync at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a many risks,” Slot commented following the opposition's victory. “Following the second half we had multiple attacking players on the field. That’s maybe why our structure for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defensive personnel on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”