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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak justly as a £125 million Anfield centre forward, the Liverpool head coach commented on Friday. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight title holders struggled to secure an leveler against Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring forward line that warranted the fiercest criticism at Anfield. His defensive foundation has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Star Forwards

Indeed, Isak was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward position and Salah subpar once more as his personal struggles continued versus the club he often plunders. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the top division as a Reds member in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a excellent second-half chance in front of the home end and could not complain when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also struck the woodwork on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to score a another goal moments after the defender's winner.

Impossible Defeat Despite Chances

It seemed impossible for the hosts to lose a game in which they created plenty of opportunities, Slot claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in current state, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently United have demonstrated.

Backline Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as the club's manager, the first person to do so after a previous manager in years past, Slot must have been frustrated at a backline effort that allowed United to dominate as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had worked on solving after the international break, including another set-piece score, it was a performance that totally undermined the champions’ second half recovery and lost them the match.

Momentum Lost Even with Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early opener. The Merseyside club could sense one more late victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight loss, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three United members unmarked past Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A powerful header into the net that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's tie gave the United manager the finest win of his turbulent club tenure. Despite the criticism around the coach it was his squad that performed with definite plan and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The first consecutive league victories of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. Slot’s team again looked like strangers at points, particularly when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the division the current campaign.

Early Goal Exposes Backline Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the first header from the captain, a likely consequence of having to pass opponents to connect with the pass, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, Van Dijk delayed to recover and follow the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Issues

The manager could justifiably question his decisions and wonder where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also question the focus and communication levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike means Slot’s team have kept only two clean sheets in a dozen games this season, the most recent coming eight games previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United exposed the left flank repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo quickly versus Kerkez was clearly in the manager's strategy. It worked time and again in the first 45 minutes. The £40 million new arrival from his former club endured a further tough match in a Liverpool jersey. Set-pieces were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost put Mbeumo in on goal while attempting an challenge. Kerkez and the captain seem on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“We take a lot of risks,” Slot explained after United’s victory. “Following the second half we had multiple attacking players on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”