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It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Liverpool striker, the Liverpool head coach stated 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 Premier League title holders struggled to secure an leveler versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring attack that warranted the harshest criticism at the stadium. His defensive foundation has evaporated.

Anonymous Display from Star Forwards

Yes, Isak was mostly unnoticeable in the No 9 role and Salah again poor as his personal struggles persisted versus the team he usually plunders. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s latest shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward missed a glorious second-half opportunity in front of the Kop and could not protest when their numbers came up. Cody Gakpo also struck the woodwork three times and inexplicably was unable to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Chances

It should have been unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created plenty of chances, the manager stated. But it is not impossible with a backline in current state, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive loss as the club's manager, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that invited the visitors to dominate as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Filled with the repeated issues that the team's management had worked on fixing after the pause, featuring yet another dead-ball score, it was a display that totally undermined the champions’ after halftime comeback and cost them the game.

Advantage Squandered Even with Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel another late win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward igniting progress and the opposition in defensive mode. Instead, it was another late Premier League defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United members free behind the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A thumping header into the net that the player missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest victory of his challenging club reign. Despite the negativity surrounding Amorim it was his squad that played with obvious strategy and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The first consecutive Premier League wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the outcome. The Liverpool team once more appeared like strangers at points, especially when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Quick Goal Reveals Backline Issues

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the finish of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was no purchase on the initial header from the captain, a probable result of having to go through opponents to connect with the ball, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and released the winger in open area on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to recover and follow Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Questions

The manager could reasonably point to his decisions and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a contentious history, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his backline. The forward's goal means the team have managed only two clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the most recent occurring many matches ago at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Defensive Side

United exposed the left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo quickly against the full-back was obviously part of the manager's strategy. It worked repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth experienced another difficult evening in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were even a problem for the previous player's replacement, who nearly sent the forward through while making one interception. The defender and the captain seem on not in sync at present.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“We take a many risks,” Slot explained after the opposition's victory. “After the second half we had six or seven offensive members on the pitch. That’s maybe why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defending players on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to do better.”