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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Liverpool striker, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. In that case, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s most expensive player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to secure an leveler versus their rivals without them, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that earned the fiercest blame at the stadium. The team's backline structure has vanished.

Anonymous Display from Star Forwards

Indeed, Isak was predominantly unnoticeable in the centre-forward position and Salah again poor as his individual toils continued against the team he usually scores against. The Sweden player had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds player in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah squandered a golden second-half opportunity facing the Kop and neither protest when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to net a second shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Chances

It should have been unthinkable for the hosts to lose a match in which they created plenty of opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as Crystal Palace, another rival and now Manchester United have demonstrated.

Backline Collapse Under Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth straight defeat as Liverpool head coach, the first person to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have despaired at a defence display that allowed United to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that the team's management had focused on eradicating after the pause, including another set-piece score, it was a display that totally undermined the champions’ after halftime comeback and lost them the match.

Advantage Lost Despite Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the home side when the substitute equalized the forward's quick opener. Liverpool could sense one more last-minute victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting improvement and United in retreat. Rather, it was another last-gasp top-flight loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several United members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A powerful header into the net that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest victory of his turbulent United reign. For all the criticism surrounding the coach it was his squad that played with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of Amorim’s reign were the result. The Liverpool side again appeared like strangers at points, especially when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth time in the division this season.

Early Opener Exposes Defensive Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from the captain, a likely consequence of having to pass two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in open area on the right. the defender was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

Slot could reasonably point to his head 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 levels his backline. The forward's strike means the side have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last occurring eight games ago at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Defensive Side

United exposed the left side repeatedly in a opening period in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo early versus Kerkez was clearly in Amorim’s strategy. It succeeded time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from Bournemouth endured a further tough evening in a club shirt. Throw-ins were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly put the forward in on goal while attempting an challenge. The defender and the captain seem on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“We take a many risks,” Slot commented following the opposition's win. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking members on the field. This is perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”