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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Anfield striker, the Liverpool head coach commented on Friday. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s highest-priced footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight title holders tried in vain to force an leveler versus Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's misfiring attack that earned the harshest blame at Anfield. His backline structure has disappeared.

Anonymous Performance from Key Attackers

Yes, Isak was predominantly anonymous in the centre-forward position and Salah subpar once more as his difficulties persisted versus the team he usually scores against. The Sweden international had his initial shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds member in the first half, smartly stopped by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a golden second-half chance facing the home end and neither protest when their numbers came up. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar three times and somehow failed to net a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Impossible Loss Despite Opportunities

It seemed impossible for the hosts to lose a game in which they created numerous opportunities, the manager stated. But it is not impossible with a defence in current state, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently United have demonstrated.

Backline Collapse During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth straight loss as Liverpool head coach, the first man to achieve this since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that allowed the visitors to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the identical errors that Liverpool’s management had worked on fixing after the international break, including yet another dead-ball score, it was a display that completely derailed the champions’ after halftime comeback and lost them the game.

Advantage Squandered Despite Uptick

Momentum was finally with the home side when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. The Merseyside club could sense one more last-minute win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward igniting improvement and United in defensive mode. Instead, 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 opposition players unmarked behind the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Excel

A thumping goal into the net that Maguire blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his challenging club reign. For all the negativity around Amorim it was his squad that played with clear purpose and a smartly implemented plan for the majority of a thrilling contest. The first back-to-back Premier League wins of the manager's reign were the outcome. Slot’s side again appeared like strangers at points, particularly when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Early Opener Reveals Defensive Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the start to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial header from the captain, a probable consequence of having to pass two players to connect with the ball, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, the centre-back delayed to recover and follow Mbeumo’s run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Questions

The manager could justifiably question his decisions and wonder where the whistle was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also question the focus and communication among his defenders. The forward's goal indicates the side have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last coming eight games previously at another ground.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors exposed the left side repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all came close to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Sending Diallo early against the full-back was obviously part of the manager's gameplan. It succeeded repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured a further tough match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were also a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly sent the forward through while attempting one interception. The defender and the captain seem on not in sync at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Acknowledgment

“We take a lot of risks,” the head coach explained following United’s victory. “After the second half we had six or seven offensive players on the field. That’s perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Usually we would have more defending players on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”