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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s costliest player sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to force an equaliser against their rivals in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming attack that earned the fiercest blame at the stadium. The team's defence has evaporated.

Anonymous Performance from Star Attackers

Yes, Isak was predominantly quiet in the No 9 position and Salah again poor as his personal struggles persisted versus the club he often scores against. The Sweden player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds player in the first half, excellently denied by the opposition's new shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward missed a golden second-half chance facing the home end and could not protest when their numbers were shown. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar three times and somehow was unable to score a second shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Opportunities

It should have been unthinkable for the hosts to lose a game in which they created plenty of chances, Slot claimed. But it is possible with a backline in such condition, as one opponent, another rival and now Manchester United have proven.

Defensive Collapse Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth consecutive loss as Liverpool head coach, the first person to achieve this since a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that allowed United to dominate as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the identical errors that the team's management had worked on solving following the international break, featuring yet another set-piece goal, it was a display that completely derailed the title holders' second half recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Lost Even with Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense another late victory with replacements one attacker, Curtis Jones and another forward sparking progress and the opposition in defensive mode. Instead, it was another last-gasp Premier League loss, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three United players unmarked behind the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A thumping header into the goal that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his challenging United tenure. Despite the criticism around Amorim it was his team that performed with clear purpose and a smartly implemented plan for the majority of a thrilling contest. The initial back-to-back league wins of the manager's time in charge were the outcome. Slot’s side again looked like strangers at points, particularly when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth time in the division this season.

Quick Opener Reveals Defensive Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the start to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial attempt from the captain, a probable consequence of having to go through two players to connect with the pass, to be fair, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released Amad Diallo in open area on the right. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, the centre-back slow to track back and follow Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Questions

The manager could justifiably question his head and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also question the focus and coordination among his defenders. The forward's goal means the team have managed only a couple of shutouts in a dozen games this season, the most recent occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed the left flank frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even the attacker all came close to increasing the visitors’ lead. Releasing Diallo early against the full-back was obviously in Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded time and again in the opening half. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth experienced another tough evening in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who almost sent Mbeumo through while attempting one challenge. The defender and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at present.

Coach'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. That’s perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally 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 do better.”