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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Anfield centre forward, Arne Slot commented on Friday. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s most expensive player sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League champions struggled to force an equaliser against their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring offence that deserved the strongest scrutiny at Anfield. The team's defence has disappeared.

Anonymous Display from Star Attackers

Indeed, Isak was mostly anonymous in the No 9 position and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils continued versus the team he typically plunders. The Sweden international had his initial attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds member in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah squandered a glorious after the break chance facing the Kop and could not protest when their numbers eventually. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to net a second shortly after the defender's winner.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Chances

It ought to have been impossible for Liverpool to be defeated in a game in which they created numerous opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, another rival and currently Manchester United have shown.

Backline Breakdown Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as Liverpool head coach, the first man to do so since a previous manager in November 2014, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that invited the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that the team's management had focused on eradicating following the international break, including another set-piece score, it was a performance that completely derailed the champions’ after halftime recovery and cost them the match.

Advantage Lost Despite Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. The Merseyside club could sense one more late win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting progress and United in retreat. Rather, it was a further late top-flight defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several opposition players unmarked past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Excel

A thumping header into the net that the player blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his turbulent United reign. For all the negativity surrounding Amorim it was his team that performed with obvious strategy and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The first consecutive Premier League victories of Amorim’s reign were the result. The Liverpool side again appeared like strangers at points, particularly when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Opener Reveals Defensive Flaws

The home side were exposed from the inception to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire opener. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from the captain, a likely consequence of having to pass opponents to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and passed to Amad Diallo in space on the right. the defender was late to react, Van Dijk delayed to recover and follow Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Questions

The manager could justifiably question his head and wonder why the whistle was from the referee, an official with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the focus and coordination among his defenders. The forward's strike indicates Slot’s side have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United exposed the left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also the attacker all came close to increasing the away team's advantage. Releasing the winger early versus Kerkez was clearly in Amorim’s tactic. It worked time and again in the first half. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced another tough evening in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost sent the forward in on goal while making an interception. The defender and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“We take a lot of gambles,” Slot explained after the opposition's win. “After the second half we had six or seven offensive players on the pitch. This is perhaps why our structure for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have more defending personnel on the pitch. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”