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It is now appropriate to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Liverpool attacker, the Liverpool head coach commented on Friday. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s highest-priced footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the English top-flight title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an leveler versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that deserved the fiercest blame at the stadium. His defensive foundation has evaporated.

Quiet Performance from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was mostly quiet in the centre-forward role and Salah again poor as his individual toils persisted versus the club he typically plunders. The Sweden player had his initial shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds member in the first half, excellently denied by the opposition's latest goalkeeper the young keeper. The forward missed a excellent after the break chance in front of the home end and could not protest when their substitution eventually. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow failed to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Chances

It seemed impossible for the hosts to be defeated in a game in which they generated plenty of chances, Slot remarked. But it is possible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, another rival and currently United have demonstrated.

Defensive Collapse Under Pressure

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as Liverpool manager, the first person to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a backline effort that invited the visitors to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground since January 2016. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on fixing after the international break, featuring another dead-ball score, it was a performance that totally derailed the champions’ second half recovery and lost them the game.

Advantage Squandered Even with Uptick

Momentum was at last with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. Liverpool could feel another last-minute victory with replacements one attacker, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa igniting progress and United in retreat. Rather, it was a further late Premier League defeat, the third straight, after the team's dead-ball frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself one of three United members unmarked past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Excel

A powerful goal into the goal that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest victory of his challenging club tenure. Despite the negativity around Amorim it was his team that played with definite plan and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League victories of the manager's time in charge were the result. Slot’s side again looked like strangers at points, particularly when allowing a set-piece score for the fifth occasion in the division this season.

Early Goal Exposes Backline Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second first goal. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to go through opponents to connect with the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, Van Dijk slow to track back and mark the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Issues

The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and ask where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the focus and communication among his defenders. The forward's goal means Slot’s team have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last occurring many matches ago at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Defensive Side

The visitors carved open Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all came close to doubling the away team's lead. Sending the winger quickly against the full-back was clearly in the manager's tactic. It succeeded time and again in the opening half. The £40 million summer signing from his former club experienced another tough match in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were also a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly sent the forward through while attempting an challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of risks,” the head coach commented after the opposition's win. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking members on the field. This is perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defending personnel on the pitch. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”