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It is now appropriate to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Anfield centre forward, the Liverpool head coach stated on Friday. Therefore, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's most expensive player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League champions attempted unsuccessfully to secure an leveler against their rivals in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring offence that warranted the strongest criticism at Anfield. The team's defensive foundation has disappeared.

Quiet Performance from Key Forwards

Yes, Isak was largely quiet in the No 9 role and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his individual toils persisted versus the club he often scores against. The Sweden player had his initial attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool player in the first half, smartly stopped by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a glorious second-half opportunity in front of the home end and neither protest when their substitution came up. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to score a another goal moments after the defender's winner.

Unthinkable Defeat In Spite of Chances

It should have been unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created numerous opportunities, Slot stated. But it is possible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, another rival and currently United have shown.

Backline Breakdown Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth consecutive defeat as the club's manager, the first man to achieve this since a previous manager in years past, the coach must have been frustrated at a backline effort that allowed United to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the identical errors that the team's coaching staff had worked on solving after the international break, including yet another set-piece score, it was a performance that totally derailed the title holders' second half recovery and lost them the match.

Advantage Lost Despite Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the home side when Gakpo equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel another late victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three opposition members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A powerful header into the net that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his turbulent United tenure. Despite the negativity surrounding the coach it was his squad that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a compelling contest. The first consecutive league victories of the manager's time in charge were the outcome. Slot’s team once more looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Opener Exposes Backline Issues

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 first attempt from the captain, a likely result of having to pass two players to connect with the ball, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released the winger in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, the centre-back delayed to track back and mark the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

Slot could reasonably point to his decisions and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the focus and coordination among his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal means Slot’s team have managed only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the most recent occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

United carved open Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all came close to increasing the visitors’ lead. Releasing Diallo early versus the full-back was obviously in Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded time and again in the first 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club experienced another tough evening in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost sent the forward in on goal while making one challenge. The defender and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of risks,” Slot commented after the opposition's victory. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking members on the pitch. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”