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The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak justly as a £125 million Anfield centre forward, the Liverpool head coach remarked on the weekend. As such, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's most expensive player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight champions attempted unsuccessfully to secure an leveler against their rivals without them, it was not Slot’s underperforming offence that warranted the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's defence has disappeared.

Anonymous Performance from Key Attackers

Indeed, Isak was mostly quiet in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his personal struggles continued versus the club he usually scores against. The Sweden international had his initial attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds member in the first half, well saved by United’s latest goalkeeper the young keeper. Salah squandered a glorious after the break opportunity in front of the home end and could not protest when their numbers eventually. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to score a second moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat Despite Opportunities

It should have been impossible for Liverpool to be defeated in a game in which they created plenty of opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, another rival and now United have demonstrated.

Backline Breakdown During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth straight defeat as Liverpool head coach, the first person to do so after Brendan Rodgers 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 Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the identical errors that Liverpool’s management had focused on eradicating after the pause, featuring another set-piece goal, it was a display that totally derailed the champions’ second half recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Uptick

Momentum was finally with the hosts when the substitute equalized the forward's quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel one more last-minute victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward sparking improvement and the opposition in defensive mode. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself among several United players unmarked past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Excel

A powerful header into the net that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave the United manager the finest victory of his turbulent club tenure. Despite the negativity around the coach it was his squad that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the majority of a thrilling contest. The initial back-to-back league wins of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. The Liverpool side once more appeared like unfamiliar at points, especially when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Quick Opener Exposes Backline Issues

The home side were exposed from the start to the finish of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was little impact on the initial attempt from the captain, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he received the ball and passed to the winger in open area on the right flank. the defender was slow to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and mark Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and wonder why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and communication among his backline. The forward's strike means the side have kept only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches so far, the last occurring many matches ago at another ground.

Constant Exploitation of Left Flank

United carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even the attacker all came close to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Releasing Diallo early versus Kerkez was clearly part of Amorim’s tactic. It worked repeatedly in the first half. The £40m summer signing from Bournemouth endured a further tough evening in a Liverpool shirt. Set-pieces were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly put the forward in on goal while attempting one challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a lot of risks,” Slot explained following United’s victory. “After the second half we had six or seven attacking members on the field. This is perhaps why our structure for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defensive players on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to do better.”