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It is now appropriate to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Liverpool striker, the Liverpool head coach stated on Friday. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's costliest footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to force an leveler versus Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's misfiring attack that earned the harshest scrutiny at the stadium. His defensive foundation has evaporated.

Quiet Performance from Star Attackers

Indeed, Isak was largely unnoticeable in the centre-forward position and Salah disappointing again as his difficulties continued against the team he typically plunders. The Sweden international had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds member in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah missed a golden second-half opportunity in front of the Kop and neither complain when their substitution eventually. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and somehow failed to net a second shortly after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they created so many opportunities, Slot claimed. But it is possible with a backline in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now United have shown.

Defensive Collapse Under Pressure

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as the club's manager, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that invited the visitors to dominate as well as their first victory at the ground in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that the team's coaching staff had focused on eradicating after the pause, featuring another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' second half recovery and lost them the game.

Momentum Squandered Despite Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel another late win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight loss, the third straight, after the team's set-piece frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United players free past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A thumping goal into the goal that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his challenging United reign. Despite the criticism around the coach it was his team that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a compelling contest. The first consecutive Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. Slot’s team again appeared like unfamiliar at points, especially when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Quick Goal Reveals Defensive Flaws

Liverpool were found wanting from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to go through two players to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and passed to Amad Diallo in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, the centre-back slow to track back and mark Mbeumo’s run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Questions

The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and wonder why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also question the focus and coordination among his defenders. The forward's strike indicates Slot’s team have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the most recent occurring many matches previously at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Defensive Side

United exposed the left side repeatedly in a opening period in which Fernandes, another player and even Gakpo all came close to increasing the visitors’ lead. Releasing the winger early versus Kerkez was obviously part of Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded time and again in the opening half. The £40 million new arrival from Bournemouth endured a further tough match in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were even a issue for the previous player's chosen successor, who almost put the forward through while making an challenge. The defender and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” Slot explained after the opposition's victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had multiple offensive members on the field. That’s perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defensive personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to do better.”