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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak justly as a £125 million Anfield attacker, the Liverpool head coach stated on Friday. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s highest-priced footballer sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to force an equaliser against their rivals without them, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that warranted the harshest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's backline structure has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Star Attackers

Yes, the Swedish striker was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward position and Salah again poor as his personal struggles continued versus the club he often scores against. The Swedish player had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the first half, excellently denied by the opposition's latest goalkeeper the young keeper. The forward wasted a golden second-half opportunity facing the home end and neither protest when their numbers came up. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork three times and somehow failed to score a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It seemed impossible for Liverpool to be defeated in a game in which they generated numerous opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is not impossible with a backline in current state, as one opponent, another rival and currently Manchester United have demonstrated.

Backline Collapse During Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth straight defeat as the club's manager, the first person to do so since a previous manager in years past, Slot must have felt dismayed at a backline effort that allowed United to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s management had worked on solving following the pause, featuring yet another dead-ball goal, it was a display that completely undermined the champions’ after halftime recovery and cost them the match.

Momentum Lost Despite Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the hosts when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. The Merseyside club could feel another last-minute win with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and another forward igniting progress and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three United players unmarked behind the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Opposition Excel

A thumping header into the goal that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his challenging United reign. Despite the criticism surrounding Amorim it was his team that played with obvious strategy and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The first back-to-back Premier League victories of Amorim’s time in charge were the result. Slot’s side once more looked like unfamiliar at points, particularly when allowing a set-piece score for the fifth time in the division this season.

Quick Goal Exposes Defensive Flaws

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was little impact on the first attempt from the captain, a probable consequence of having to pass opponents to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. the defender was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and mark the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Questions

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and wonder where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the concentration and coordination among his backline. The forward's goal indicates the side have managed only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games this season, the most recent occurring eight games ago at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Defensive Side

United exposed the left side frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also the attacker all nearly scored to doubling the away team's advantage. Releasing the winger quickly against the full-back was clearly in the manager's gameplan. It worked repeatedly in the first half. The £40 million summer signing from his former club experienced a further difficult match in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who nearly put the forward through while attempting an interception. The defender and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” Slot commented after the opposition's victory. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking players on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have more defensive players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”