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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Anfield attacker, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. As such, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's highest-priced footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight champions attempted unsuccessfully to secure an equaliser against Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's underperforming offence that deserved the fiercest blame at Anfield. His defensive foundation has vanished.

Anonymous Display from Key Attackers

Yes, Isak was mostly unnoticeable in the No 9 position and Salah again poor as his individual toils continued versus the club he typically plunders. The Swedish international had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Reds player in the 35th minute, well saved by the opposition's new shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah squandered a golden second-half chance facing the Kop and neither protest when their substitution were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar three times and somehow was unable to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Chances

It ought to have been unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a game in which they created numerous opportunities, Slot stated. But it is not impossible with a backline in this form, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have proven.

Backline Collapse Under Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth straight loss as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so since Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that allowed United to dominate as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had worked on solving after the pause, featuring another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that completely derailed the champions’ second half recovery and cost them the game.

Advantage Lost Despite Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when Gakpo equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. Liverpool could feel another last-minute victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was another late top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself among several United players free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A powerful header into the net that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his challenging club reign. For all the criticism around the coach it was his squad that played with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the majority of a compelling contest. The first consecutive league wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the outcome. The Liverpool side again appeared like unfamiliar at times, especially when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Goal Exposes Defensive Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the start to the finish of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was no purchase on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to reach the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released the winger in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was slow to react, the centre-back slow to recover and mark Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Questions

Slot could justifiably question his head and ask where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and coordination among his backline. The forward's strike means Slot’s team have managed only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games this season, the last occurring many matches previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open the left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all came close to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing the winger quickly against Kerkez was obviously part of Amorim’s gameplan. It worked time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured a further tough match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost sent the forward through while making an challenge. The defender and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Explanation and Acknowledgment

“We take a lot of risks,” the head coach explained following the opposition's win. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking members on the field. That’s perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have more defensive players on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”