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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125m Anfield centre forward, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. In that case, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s most expensive footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight champions attempted unsuccessfully to force an leveler versus their rivals without them, it was not Slot’s misfiring forward line that earned the harshest criticism at the stadium. The team's backline structure has disappeared.

Quiet Performance from Key Attackers

Indeed, Isak was predominantly unnoticeable in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger again poor as his difficulties continued versus the team he typically plunders. The Sweden player had his initial attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the first half, well saved by the opposition's latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden after the break opportunity in front of the Kop and could not complain when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar three times and somehow failed to net a second moments after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It seemed impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated plenty of chances, the manager remarked. But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have shown.

Backline Collapse Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth consecutive defeat as Liverpool head coach, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have despaired at a defensive performance that invited United to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the same mistakes that the team's management had worked on solving following the pause, featuring another set-piece goal, it was a display that totally derailed the champions’ after halftime comeback and cost them the match.

Momentum Lost Despite Uptick

Momentum was finally with the hosts when the substitute cancelled out the forward's quick opener. Liverpool could feel one more late victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa igniting progress and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third straight, after the team's set-piece weaknesses resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several opposition players unmarked past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A thumping goal into the goal that the player missed in the dying seconds of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his challenging United reign. Despite the negativity around Amorim it was his squad that played with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the majority of a compelling encounter. The initial back-to-back league victories of the manager's reign were the outcome. Slot’s team once more appeared like strangers at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the division this season.

Early Goal Exposes Backline Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the first attempt from the captain, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to connect with the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released Amad Diallo in space on the right. the defender was slow to respond, the centre-back delayed to recover and follow the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and wonder where the whistle was from the referee, an official with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and coordination among his backline. The forward's goal means the team have kept only two shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open the left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing the winger quickly against the full-back was clearly part of the manager's tactic. It worked time and again in the first 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from his former club endured a further tough evening in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost put the forward in on goal while making an interception. Kerkez and the captain seem on not in sync at present.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” the head coach commented after United’s victory. “After the second half we had multiple offensive members on the pitch. This is maybe why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have more defensive players on the field. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”