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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Anfield striker, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. Therefore, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League title holders struggled to secure an leveler against Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming attack that warranted the fiercest blame at Anfield. The team's defence has evaporated.

Anonymous Performance from Key Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely anonymous in the centre-forward position and the Egyptian winger again poor as his personal struggles persisted against the club he typically scores against. The Sweden player had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah missed a excellent after the break chance facing the Kop and neither complain when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the woodwork three times and inexplicably failed to score a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It ought to have been unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created numerous chances, Slot claimed. But it is not impossible with a backline in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and currently United have shown.

Backline Collapse During Pressure

As he presided over a fourth successive loss as the club's manager, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that allowed the visitors to take the initiative as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the repeated issues that the team's management had worked on eradicating following the pause, featuring another dead-ball goal, it was a display that completely undermined the champions’ second half recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the home side when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. The Merseyside club could feel another late win with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was another late Premier League loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three United members free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A thumping goal into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest win of his challenging club tenure. Despite the criticism around Amorim it was his squad that played with definite plan and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The first back-to-back Premier League victories of the manager's reign were the outcome. Slot’s side once more looked like unfamiliar at times, especially when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Early Goal Exposes Backline Flaws

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the first header from the captain, a probable result of having to go through two players to connect with the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to the winger in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk slow to track back and follow the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

The manager could reasonably question his decisions and wonder why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also question the concentration and coordination among his defenders. The forward's strike indicates Slot’s team have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent occurring many matches ago at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United exposed the left side repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all came close to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Sending Diallo early against the full-back was clearly in Amorim’s strategy. It worked repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from Bournemouth endured a further tough evening in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly sent Mbeumo in on goal while making an interception. Kerkez and the captain seem on not in sync at the moment.

Manager’s Explanation and Acknowledgment

“We take a lot of risks,” Slot commented after United’s win. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking players on the field. This is 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 fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”