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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot commented on the weekend. Therefore, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's highest-priced footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to secure an equaliser against their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that deserved the strongest criticism at the stadium. The team's defence has vanished.

Anonymous Display from Star Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely quiet in the No 9 role and Salah disappointing again as his difficulties persisted versus the club he typically scores against. The Swedish player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds member in the first half, well saved by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward squandered a excellent second-half chance facing the home end and could not complain when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also struck the woodwork on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to score a second moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Opportunities

It should have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created so many opportunities, the manager stated. But it is possible with a backline in current state, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have proven.

Defensive Collapse Under Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth successive loss as the club's head coach, the first person to do so since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have felt dismayed at a backline effort that invited the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had worked on fixing after the international break, featuring another dead-ball score, it was a performance that totally derailed the champions’ after halftime recovery and cost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Uptick

Momentum was finally with the hosts when Gakpo equalized the forward's early breakthrough. Liverpool could sense another last-minute victory with replacements one attacker, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa igniting progress and the opposition in retreat. Rather, it was a further late top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three United members free behind the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Excel

A powerful header into the net that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his turbulent club tenure. Despite the negativity surrounding the coach it was his team that performed with clear purpose and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a compelling encounter. The initial back-to-back Premier League victories of the manager's time in charge were the result. Slot’s team once more appeared like strangers at times, especially when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth occasion in the division the current campaign.

Quick Opener Exposes Backline Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to pass opponents to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to the winger in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, Van Dijk slow to track back and mark Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could justifiably question his head and wonder where the foul was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the focus and communication among his backline. The forward's goal means Slot’s side have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent coming eight games previously at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors carved open Liverpool’s left side repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the away team's advantage. Sending the winger quickly against Kerkez was obviously part of the manager's tactic. It succeeded time and again in the opening half. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced a further difficult match in a club shirt. Set-pieces were even a issue for the previous player's chosen successor, who almost sent Mbeumo through while attempting an challenge. Kerkez and the captain appear on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” Slot commented following the opposition's win. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple offensive players on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”