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The time has come to start judging Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Liverpool striker, the Liverpool head coach commented on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's most expensive footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League champions struggled to secure an leveler against their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming forward line that deserved the fiercest blame at Anfield. The team's defence has disappeared.

Quiet Display from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was mostly quiet in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his personal struggles continued against the club he typically scores against. The Swedish international had his initial shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's new shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah missed a golden after the break chance in front of the home end and could not protest when their substitution eventually. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar three times and somehow failed to net a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Loss Despite Opportunities

It ought to have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created so many opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is not impossible with a backline in current state, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now Manchester United have shown.

Backline Breakdown During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth straight loss as Liverpool head coach, the first man to achieve this after a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a backline effort that invited United to take the initiative as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that the team's management had worked on fixing following the international break, including yet another dead-ball score, it was a display that completely undermined the title holders' after halftime recovery and lost them the game.

Advantage Lost Despite Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the home side when the substitute cancelled out the forward's quick opener. Liverpool could feel one more last-minute victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward igniting progress and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another last-gasp Premier League defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself one of three opposition players unmarked past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A powerful goal into the net that Maguire blazed over in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his challenging club reign. For all the criticism around the coach it was his team that played with clear purpose and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The first consecutive Premier League wins of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. The Liverpool team again appeared like unfamiliar at points, particularly when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Quick Opener Exposes Defensive Issues

The home side were lacking from the inception to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the first attempt from the captain, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, Van Dijk slow to recover and mark Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Questions

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and ask where the whistle was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and coordination levels his backline. Mbeumo’s goal means Slot’s team have kept only two shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming eight games ago at another ground.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

United exposed Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even the attacker all came close to doubling the visitors’ advantage. Releasing the winger quickly against Kerkez was clearly in Amorim’s strategy. It worked repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club experienced a further tough evening in a Liverpool jersey. Set-pieces were even a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who nearly sent the forward through while attempting an interception. The defender and the captain seem on not in sync at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“We take a many risks,” Slot explained after the opposition's win. “After the second half we had six or seven offensive players on the field. This is maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Usually we would have additional defensive personnel on the field. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”