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Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Anfield centre forward, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's highest-priced footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the Premier League title holders struggled to secure an equaliser versus their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming offence that earned the fiercest blame at Anfield. His defensive foundation has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Key Attackers

Yes, Isak was largely unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils continued against the club he usually plunders. The Sweden international had his initial shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds player in the first half, excellently denied by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden second-half opportunity facing the home end and neither protest when their substitution eventually. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork three times and inexplicably failed to net a another goal shortly after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a game in which they created plenty of chances, the manager stated. But it is not impossible with a defence in current state, as one opponent, another rival and now United have shown.

Backline Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth consecutive loss as Liverpool head coach, the first person to do so since a previous manager in years past, Slot must have been frustrated at a backline effort that invited United to seize control 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 fixing following the pause, including another set-piece score, it was a display that completely undermined the champions’ second half recovery and cost them the match.

Advantage Squandered Even with Improvement

Momentum was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's quick opener. The Merseyside club could sense one more last-minute win with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and the opposition in defensive mode. Instead, it was another late Premier League defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several opposition members free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Outperform

A thumping header into the net that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest win of his challenging club reign. For all the criticism around the coach it was his team that played with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive league wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. The Liverpool team once more appeared like unfamiliar at points, especially when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Quick Opener Exposes Defensive Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the inception to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the first header from the captain, a likely result of having to pass opponents to reach the ball, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released the winger in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to react, Van Dijk slow to recover and follow Mbeumo’s movement while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Issues

Slot could reasonably question his decisions and ask why the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also question the concentration and communication levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike indicates the team have kept only two shutouts in a dozen games so far, the last occurring many matches ago at another ground.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

United carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and even Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the away team's lead. Releasing Diallo early against the full-back was clearly in Amorim’s strategy. It worked repeatedly in the opening half. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced a further tough match in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were even a issue for the previous player's chosen successor, who nearly sent the forward through while making one interception. The defender and the captain seem on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“We take a many gambles,” the head coach explained after United’s win. “Following the second half we had multiple attacking members on the pitch. That’s maybe why our structure for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have more defending players on the field. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”