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It is now appropriate to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125m Anfield centre forward, the Liverpool head coach commented on the weekend. As such, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's most expensive player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the English top-flight champions attempted unsuccessfully to force an equaliser against their rivals in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming offence that earned the fiercest criticism at Anfield. His backline structure has disappeared.

Quiet Performance from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was mostly anonymous in the centre-forward position and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his personal struggles continued versus the team he usually scores against. The Swedish international had his first attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Reds player in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward squandered a glorious second-half chance in front of the Kop and neither protest when their substitution came up. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to score a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Chances

It should have been impossible for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created plenty of opportunities, Slot stated. But it is possible with a backline in this form, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently Manchester United have demonstrated.

Backline Collapse During Pressure

While overseeing a fourth straight loss as Liverpool head coach, the first person to do so after a previous manager in years past, the coach must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that invited the visitors to dominate as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that the team's coaching staff had focused on solving after the international break, including yet another dead-ball score, it was a display that completely undermined the title holders' second half comeback and lost them the game.

Momentum Lost Even with Improvement

Momentum was at last with the hosts when Gakpo equalized the forward's early opener. The Merseyside club could sense another last-minute win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another late Premier League defeat, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself one of three opposition members unmarked behind Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A thumping header into the goal that Maguire missed in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave the United manager the best win of his turbulent United reign. Despite the criticism around the coach it was his team that performed with clear purpose and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a compelling contest. The first back-to-back league wins of the manager's reign were the result. The Liverpool team again looked like strangers at times, particularly when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Quick Goal Exposes Defensive Issues

The home side were exposed from the start to the finish of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from the captain, a likely consequence of having to pass two players to connect with the ball, to be fair, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right. the defender was late to react, the centre-back slow to track back and mark Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could reasonably question his decisions and ask why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the concentration and communication among his defenders. The forward's goal means Slot’s team have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent occurring eight games ago at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open the left flank repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also the attacker all nearly scored to increasing the away team's lead. Sending Diallo early against Kerkez was obviously in Amorim’s tactic. It succeeded time and again in the first 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from Bournemouth endured another difficult evening in a club jersey. Throw-ins were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost put the forward in on goal while attempting an challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” Slot commented after the opposition's win. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking players on the pitch. That’s maybe why our organization for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defensive players on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”