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It is now appropriate to start judging Alexander Isak justly as a record-breaking Anfield centre forward, the Liverpool head coach commented on the weekend. In that case, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's costliest footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the English top-flight champions struggled to secure an leveler against Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming forward line that warranted the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's defensive foundation has evaporated.

Anonymous Performance from Key Attackers

Yes, Isak was largely anonymous in the No 9 position and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils persisted against the team he often scores against. The Sweden international had his initial attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds player in the first half, smartly stopped by the opposition's new shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah missed a golden second-half chance facing the Kop and could not complain when their numbers were shown. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to score a second moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Chances

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created so many chances, the manager stated. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as Crystal Palace, another rival and now Manchester United have shown.

Backline Breakdown Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive loss as the club's manager, the first man to do so since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have despaired at a defence display that invited United to take the initiative as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the identical errors that the team's management had worked on solving after the pause, including yet another set-piece goal, it was a display that completely derailed the champions’ second half recovery and cost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Uptick

Momentum was at last with the hosts when Gakpo equalized the forward's quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense one more last-minute win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa igniting progress and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further last-gasp Premier League defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several United players unmarked behind Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Rivals Excel

A powerful header into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his challenging United tenure. For all the criticism around the coach it was his squad that played with obvious strategy and a well-executed plan for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League victories of the manager's reign were the result. Slot’s team once more appeared like strangers at points, especially when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the division the current campaign.

Early Goal Reveals Defensive Flaws

Liverpool were found wanting from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the initial attempt from the captain, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to connect with the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, the centre-back delayed to track back and mark the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

Slot could reasonably question his decisions and ask why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty past, but also question the concentration and coordination among his backline. Mbeumo’s strike means Slot’s side have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent coming eight games previously at another ground.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

United exposed the left flank frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even the attacker all came close to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Sending Diallo quickly versus Kerkez was obviously part of Amorim’s tactic. It worked time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million new arrival from his former club endured a further difficult evening in a club shirt. Set-pieces were also a problem for the previous player's replacement, who nearly put the forward through while attempting one challenge. Kerkez and the captain seem on not in sync at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“We take a lot of risks,” Slot explained following the opposition's victory. “After the second half we had six or seven attacking members on the field. That’s maybe why our structure for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have more defending players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”