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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Anfield attacker, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. In that case, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's highest-priced player sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to secure an equaliser versus their rivals without them, it was not the manager's underperforming attack that warranted the fiercest criticism at Anfield. His defensive foundation has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Key Forwards

Yes, the Swedish striker was largely quiet in the centre-forward position and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his personal struggles persisted versus the team he typically scores against. The Swedish international had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, well saved by the opposition's latest goalkeeper the young keeper. The forward wasted a glorious second-half chance facing the home end and neither protest when their substitution were shown. Cody Gakpo also hit the crossbar three times and inexplicably failed to net a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Opportunities

It ought to have been impossible for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created numerous opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently United have demonstrated.

Backline Breakdown During Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth straight defeat as the club's head coach, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have despaired at a backline effort that invited United to dominate as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the identical errors that the team's coaching staff had worked on fixing after the pause, featuring yet another set-piece score, it was a display that totally undermined the title holders' second half recovery and lost them the game.

Momentum Squandered Even with Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when Gakpo equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. Liverpool could sense one more late win with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and another forward sparking progress and United in retreat. Instead, it was another late top-flight loss, the third straight, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three United members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Excel

A powerful goal into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his challenging United tenure. Despite the negativity around the coach it was his squad that played with definite plan and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of Amorim’s reign were the result. Slot’s side once more appeared like unfamiliar at points, especially when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the division this season.

Quick Goal Reveals Backline Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the inception to the finish of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from the captain, a probable consequence of having to go through opponents to reach the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released the winger in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk slow to track back and mark the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could justifiably question his decisions and wonder where the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike means the team have managed only two clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the last coming eight games ago at another ground.

Repeated Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a opening period in which Fernandes, another player and also the attacker all nearly scored to increasing the away team's advantage. Releasing Diallo quickly versus Kerkez was obviously in the manager's gameplan. It worked time and again in the opening half. The £40 million summer signing from Bournemouth experienced a further difficult match in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were also a problem for the previous player's replacement, who nearly put Mbeumo in on goal while making one interception. The defender and Van Dijk appear on not in sync at present.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“We take a many gambles,” the head coach explained after the opposition's victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking players on the field. That’s maybe why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defending personnel on the pitch. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”