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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a record-breaking Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot commented on the weekend. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's costliest player sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League champions tried in vain to secure an equaliser against Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's underperforming offence that earned the strongest blame at Anfield. The team's backline structure has disappeared.

Anonymous Display from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and Salah disappointing again as his difficulties continued against the team he typically scores against. The Swedish international had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds player in the first half, excellently denied by the opposition's latest shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah missed a excellent after the break opportunity in front of the Kop and neither complain when their numbers came up. The Dutch attacker also struck the woodwork three times and somehow was unable to score a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Impossible Defeat Despite Chances

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created plenty of opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is not impossible with a backline in this form, as one opponent, Chelsea and now Manchester United have shown.

Defensive Collapse During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth straight loss as the club's manager, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have been frustrated at a defence display that invited United to dominate as well as their first victory at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had focused on eradicating following the pause, featuring yet another set-piece goal, it was a performance that completely derailed the champions’ second half recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Lost Despite Uptick

Momentum was finally with the hosts when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. The Merseyside club could feel another late victory with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and another forward igniting progress and the opposition in retreat. Rather, it was a further late top-flight defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself among several opposition players unmarked past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Excel

A powerful header into the net that the player missed in the dying seconds of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his challenging United tenure. For all the criticism surrounding Amorim it was his team that played with definite plan and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The first back-to-back Premier League victories of the manager's time in charge were the outcome. Slot’s side once more appeared like unfamiliar at points, particularly when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth time in the Premier League the current campaign.

Quick Opener Exposes Backline Flaws

The home side were lacking from the start to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to go through opponents to connect with the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and released Amad Diallo in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, the centre-back slow to recover and mark Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Focus Questions

Slot could justifiably point to his head and ask 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 defenders. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s side have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the last coming eight games previously at another ground.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

United exposed the left flank frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and also the attacker all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo early versus the full-back was obviously in the manager's gameplan. It succeeded time and again in the first half. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured another tough evening in a club jersey. Throw-ins were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly put the forward through while attempting one challenge. The defender and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of risks,” the head coach explained following United’s victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking players on the pitch. This is perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have more defending players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”