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It is now appropriate to begin evaluating Alexander Isak justly as a record-breaking Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to secure an leveler versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming offence that warranted the strongest criticism at the stadium. The team's defensive foundation has vanished.

Quiet Performance from Star Attackers

Yes, the Swedish striker was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his individual toils persisted versus the team he often plunders. The Swedish international had his initial shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds member in the first half, excellently denied by United’s new shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah squandered a excellent after the break opportunity facing the Kop and could not protest when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also hit the crossbar three times and inexplicably failed to score a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It seemed unthinkable for the hosts to lose a game in which they generated plenty of opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have proven.

Defensive Collapse Under Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth consecutive loss as the club's head coach, the first man to do so since a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have been frustrated at a backline effort that invited United to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the same mistakes that the team's coaching staff had worked on solving following the international break, including yet another set-piece score, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' after halftime comeback and lost them the match.

Advantage Lost Despite Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when Gakpo equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. The Merseyside club could sense another late win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward igniting progress and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another late Premier League defeat, the third straight, after the team's dead-ball frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several opposition players unmarked behind the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Outperform

A thumping goal into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest win of his turbulent club reign. Despite the criticism around Amorim it was his team that performed with clear purpose and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The first back-to-back Premier League victories of the manager's reign were the outcome. The Liverpool side again appeared like strangers at points, especially when allowing a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Early Goal Exposes Backline Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the start to the finish of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was little impact on the first header from the captain, a likely consequence of having to go through opponents to reach the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right. the defender was late to respond, the centre-back delayed to recover and mark the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Questions

Slot could justifiably question his head and wonder where the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also doubt the focus and coordination among his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike means the side have managed only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games this season, the last coming many matches previously at another ground.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

United exposed the left flank frequently in a opening period in which Fernandes, another player and also Gakpo all came close to doubling the visitors’ advantage. Releasing the winger early against the full-back was clearly in the manager's gameplan. It worked repeatedly in the first half. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced another tough evening in a club shirt. Set-pieces were even a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost sent Mbeumo in on goal while attempting an interception. The defender and Van Dijk appear on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” the head coach commented following the opposition's victory. “After the second half we had six or seven attacking players on the field. That’s maybe why our structure for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Usually we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”