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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Liverpool striker, the Liverpool head coach stated on the weekend. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s costliest footballer sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League champions attempted unsuccessfully to force an equaliser against Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming offence that warranted the harshest blame at Anfield. His backline structure has vanished.

Quiet Performance from Key Forwards

Yes, the Swedish striker was largely anonymous in the No 9 role and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his difficulties continued against the team he typically plunders. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's latest shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward missed a golden after the break chance in front of the Kop and could not complain when their numbers came up. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow failed to net a another goal moments after the defender's winner.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It should have been impossible for the hosts to be defeated in a game in which they generated numerous opportunities, Slot remarked. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as one opponent, Chelsea and now Manchester United have proven.

Defensive Breakdown Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth successive loss as Liverpool head coach, the first man to do so since Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have despaired at a backline effort that invited United to take the initiative 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 solving after the international break, featuring yet another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that completely derailed the champions’ after halftime recovery and cost them the game.

Momentum Lost Even with Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense one more late win with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and another forward sparking improvement and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was a further late Premier League loss, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece weaknesses resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several opposition members unmarked past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A thumping goal into the net that the player missed in the final moments of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his turbulent United reign. Despite the criticism surrounding Amorim it was his squad that performed with obvious strategy and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a compelling contest. The first consecutive league wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. The Liverpool team again appeared like unfamiliar at points, particularly when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Quick Goal Reveals Backline Issues

The home side were found wanting from the start to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to go through two players to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, Van Dijk slow to recover and mark Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

Slot could reasonably question his head and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also question the concentration and coordination levels his defenders. The forward's goal indicates the side have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the most recent occurring eight games previously at another ground.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors exposed the left side repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ lead. Sending Diallo quickly against the full-back was clearly part of the manager's tactic. It worked time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club experienced another tough evening in a club shirt. Set-pieces were also a issue for the previous player's chosen successor, who nearly put Mbeumo in on goal while attempting an challenge. The defender and the captain seem on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a many gambles,” the head coach commented after United’s win. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven offensive members on the field. That’s perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Normally we would have more defending personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”