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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Anfield attacker, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. In that case, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to secure an leveler against Manchester United without them, it was not Slot’s underperforming forward line that deserved the strongest blame at the stadium. The team's backline structure has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Key Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely quiet in the No 9 role and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils continued versus the club he usually plunders. The Sweden international had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a excellent second-half chance in front of the Kop and could not protest when their numbers eventually. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork three times and inexplicably failed to net a another goal moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Impossible Loss Despite Chances

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created plenty of opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is not impossible with a backline in such condition, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have proven.

Backline Collapse Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth straight defeat as the club's head coach, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have despaired at a defence display that invited United to seize control as well as their initial win at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the identical errors that Liverpool’s coaching staff had focused on eradicating after the international break, featuring yet another set-piece goal, it was a performance that totally derailed the title holders' second half comeback and lost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. Liverpool could sense one more last-minute win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another late top-flight loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several opposition players unmarked past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A thumping header into the net that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's tie gave the United manager the finest victory of his challenging United reign. Despite the criticism around the coach it was his squad that performed with definite plan and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a thrilling contest. The initial back-to-back league wins of Amorim’s reign were the result. The Liverpool team once more looked like unfamiliar at points, particularly when allowing a set-piece score for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Quick Opener Reveals Backline Flaws

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was little impact on the initial attempt from the captain, a likely result of having to pass two players to reach the ball, to be fair, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, the centre-back delayed to recover and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and ask why the foul was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s side have managed only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the last occurring many matches previously at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Defensive Side

The visitors carved open the left side repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the away team's advantage. Releasing the winger quickly against Kerkez was obviously in Amorim’s gameplan. It worked repeatedly in the opening half. The £40 million new arrival from Bournemouth experienced a further difficult match in a Liverpool jersey. Set-pieces were even a problem for the previous player's chosen successor, who almost sent Mbeumo in on goal while attempting one interception. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of risks,” Slot explained after the opposition's victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking members on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our structure for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defensive players on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”