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Now is the moment to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a record-breaking Anfield striker, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an equaliser versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring attack that deserved the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's defence has disappeared.

Quiet Display from Key Forwards

Indeed, Isak was predominantly anonymous in the No 9 role and the Egyptian winger again poor as his personal struggles continued against the team he typically plunders. The Swedish international had his first attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Reds member in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s new goalkeeper the young keeper. Salah wasted a excellent second-half chance in front of the Kop and could not complain when their numbers were shown. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to score a another goal shortly after the defender's winner.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It ought to have been unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a game in which they created plenty of chances, Slot stated. But it is possible with a backline in such condition, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have proven.

Defensive Breakdown During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as the club's head coach, the first man to do so since a previous manager in November 2014, Slot must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that invited the visitors to seize control as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the identical errors that the team's management had worked on solving following the international break, including another set-piece goal, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' second half recovery and lost them the match.

Advantage Squandered Even with Improvement

Momentum was at last with the home side when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. Liverpool could sense another last-minute victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa igniting improvement and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was a further last-gasp Premier League defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several United members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A powerful header into the goal that the player missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his turbulent club reign. For all the negativity surrounding the coach it was his team that performed with obvious strategy and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a compelling encounter. The initial consecutive league wins of Amorim’s reign were the result. The Liverpool team once more looked like unfamiliar at points, particularly when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth occasion in the division the current campaign.

Quick Opener Reveals Backline Issues

Liverpool were exposed from the start to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial header from the captain, a probable result of having to go through two players to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and released the winger in space on the right flank. the defender was late to react, the centre-back slow to track back and mark the forward's movement while the goalkeeper, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

The manager could justifiably question his head and wonder why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also question the focus and coordination among his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s side have managed only a couple of shutouts in a dozen games this season, the last coming many matches ago at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors carved open the left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all came close to doubling the visitors’ lead. Releasing the winger early versus the full-back was clearly in Amorim’s tactic. It worked time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club experienced a further tough evening in a Liverpool shirt. Set-pieces were even a problem for the previous player's replacement, who nearly put the forward in on goal while attempting an interception. The defender and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” Slot commented following the opposition's victory. “After the second half we had multiple attacking players on the field. This is perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Normally we would have more defending players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”