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It is now appropriate to start judging Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Anfield attacker, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s highest-priced player sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League title holders struggled to force an equaliser against Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming forward line that deserved the strongest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's defence has disappeared.

Quiet Display from Star Forwards

Yes, the Swedish striker was predominantly unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and Salah again poor as his individual toils continued against the club he often plunders. The Swedish player had his initial attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, well saved by the opposition's latest shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah missed a golden after the break chance in front of the Kop and could not protest when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and inexplicably failed to score a another goal moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It seemed impossible for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they created so many opportunities, Slot stated. But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, another rival and now Manchester United have proven.

Defensive Breakdown During Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive loss as Liverpool head coach, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that invited the visitors to take the initiative as well as their first victory at the ground in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on solving after the pause, featuring yet another set-piece score, it was a performance that totally undermined the title holders' second half recovery and lost them the game.

Advantage Lost Despite Uptick

Momentum was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense another late victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three United players unmarked past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A thumping header into the net that the player missed in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his challenging club reign. Despite the criticism surrounding the coach it was his team that played with clear purpose and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The first consecutive league wins of the manager's reign were the outcome. The Liverpool side once more looked like unfamiliar at times, especially when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Quick Opener Reveals Backline Flaws

The home side were lacking from the start to the finish of Mbeumo’s 62-second first goal. There was no purchase on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to go through two players to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released the winger in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk slow to recover and follow the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Concentration Questions

Slot could reasonably question his decisions and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the concentration and coordination levels his backline. Mbeumo’s goal means Slot’s side have kept only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming eight games ago at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Defensive Side

United exposed Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Releasing Diallo quickly versus Kerkez was obviously part of Amorim’s strategy. It worked time and again in the first half. The £40m summer signing from his former club experienced a further tough evening in a club shirt. Set-pieces were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly put Mbeumo in on goal while attempting an challenge. The defender and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“We take a many risks,” the head coach commented after United’s victory. “Following the second half we had multiple offensive players on the pitch. This is perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Usually we would have additional defensive players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”