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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a record-breaking Liverpool striker, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s highest-priced footballer sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to secure an leveler against Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming attack that earned the harshest blame at the stadium. His defence has disappeared.

Anonymous Performance from Key Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly quiet in the No 9 role and the Egyptian winger again poor as his difficulties persisted against the club he typically scores against. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the top division as a Reds player in the first half, excellently denied by the opposition's new shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah missed a golden after the break chance in front of the home end and neither protest when their numbers came up. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and somehow failed to score a another goal moments after the defender's winner.

Impossible Defeat Despite Opportunities

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they generated plenty of opportunities, Slot remarked. But it is not impossible with a defence in current state, as Crystal Palace, another rival and now Manchester United have proven.

Defensive Breakdown During Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive loss as the club's head coach, the first person to achieve this since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that allowed the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on eradicating following the pause, including another set-piece score, it was a display that totally undermined the title holders' second half recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Even with Improvement

Momentum was at last with the home side when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. Liverpool could sense another late victory with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting progress and the opposition in retreat. Rather, it was a further late Premier League defeat, the third straight, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United players free past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A powerful header into the net that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the best win of his challenging club reign. For all the negativity surrounding the coach it was his team that played with definite plan and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a compelling contest. The first back-to-back Premier League wins of the manager's reign were the outcome. Slot’s side once more appeared like unfamiliar at points, especially when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Quick Opener Reveals Backline Issues

The home side were lacking from the start to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to connect with the ball, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to the winger in space on the right flank. the defender was slow to react, Van Dijk delayed to recover and mark Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could justifiably question his decisions and ask why the whistle was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his defenders. The forward's strike means Slot’s team have kept only two shutouts in a dozen games so far, the most recent coming many matches previously at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Defensive Side

United carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all came close to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Sending Diallo quickly versus Kerkez was clearly part of Amorim’s tactic. It worked repeatedly in the opening half. The £40 million summer signing from Bournemouth endured another tough match in a Liverpool shirt. Set-pieces were even a problem for the previous player's replacement, who almost put the forward in on goal while making one interception. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a many gambles,” Slot commented following the opposition's win. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking players on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we typically are. Usually we would have more defensive personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”