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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a record-breaking Anfield striker, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s costliest player sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an leveler against their rivals without them, it was not Slot’s underperforming attack that warranted the strongest blame at Anfield. His defensive foundation has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Key Forwards

Yes, Isak was predominantly anonymous in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his individual toils continued versus the team he typically scores against. The Sweden international had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds member in the 35th minute, well saved by the opposition's new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden second-half chance facing the Kop and neither protest when their substitution eventually. Cody Gakpo also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to net a another goal shortly after the defender's winner.

Impossible Defeat Despite Opportunities

It ought to have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated plenty of opportunities, the manager stated. But it is not impossible with a defence in current state, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now United have demonstrated.

Defensive Collapse Under Pressure

While overseeing a fourth straight loss as Liverpool head coach, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have been frustrated at a backline effort that allowed the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had worked on fixing following the international break, featuring yet another dead-ball score, it was a performance that completely derailed the title holders' second half recovery and cost them the match.

Advantage Lost Even with Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when Gakpo equalized the forward's quick opener. The Merseyside club could sense one more last-minute win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward sparking improvement and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another late top-flight loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself among several opposition members unmarked behind the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A thumping header into the goal that Maguire missed in the final moments of last season’s tie gave the United manager the best win of his turbulent United tenure. Despite the negativity around Amorim it was his team that played with obvious strategy and a well-executed approach for the majority of a compelling contest. The initial consecutive league victories of the manager's time in charge were the outcome. The Liverpool team again appeared like unfamiliar at points, particularly when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Early Opener Exposes Backline Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the inception to the execution of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was no purchase on the first header from the captain, a probable result of having to pass opponents to reach the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on the playmaker when he received the ball and released the winger in space on the right. the defender was slow to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and follow the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could reasonably point to his head and wonder where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and coordination among his backline. The forward's goal indicates the team have kept only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games this season, the most recent occurring many matches previously at another ground.

Constant Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors carved open the left flank repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even the attacker all nearly scored to increasing the away team's advantage. Releasing the winger early versus Kerkez was clearly in the manager's tactic. It succeeded repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from his former club endured another difficult match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were even a problem for the previous player's chosen successor, who almost put the forward in on goal while making one challenge. The defender and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“Our approach involves a many risks,” Slot commented following the opposition's win. “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 usually are. Normally we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”