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The time has come to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Liverpool centre forward, the Liverpool head coach remarked on the weekend. In that case, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's highest-priced player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight title holders attempted unsuccessfully to secure an equaliser against their rivals without them, it was not Slot’s underperforming forward line that deserved the fiercest blame at Anfield. The team's defence has disappeared.

Quiet Display from Star Forwards

Yes, Isak was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger again poor as his personal struggles persisted versus the team he typically scores against. The Sweden player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds player in the first half, smartly stopped by United’s new shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward wasted a golden second-half opportunity facing the Kop and neither complain when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork three times and inexplicably was unable to score a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Chances

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they created numerous chances, the manager remarked. But it is not impossible with a backline in this form, as Crystal Palace, another rival and now United have proven.

Backline Breakdown Under Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as the club's manager, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defence display that allowed the visitors to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the repeated issues that the team's coaching staff had worked on fixing after the international break, featuring another dead-ball score, it was a display that completely derailed the title holders' second half recovery and cost them the game.

Momentum Lost Despite Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the home side when Gakpo equalized the forward's quick opener. The Merseyside club could feel another last-minute win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward igniting improvement and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third straight, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three opposition members free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Excel

A powerful goal into the net that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the best win of his turbulent United reign. For all the negativity around the coach it was his squad that performed with obvious strategy and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League victories of Amorim’s reign were the result. Slot’s side once more appeared like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Goal Reveals Defensive Issues

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the initial attempt from the captain, a probable result of having to go through opponents to connect with the ball, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and passed to the winger in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk slow to track back and follow the forward's run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

Slot could reasonably question his decisions and wonder where the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also question the concentration and communication among his backline. Mbeumo’s strike means the team have kept only two shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent occurring many matches previously at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even the attacker all nearly scored to increasing the away team's advantage. Releasing the winger early versus Kerkez was obviously in the manager's strategy. It succeeded time and again in the first half. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth experienced a further difficult evening in a club shirt. Set-pieces were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly put the forward in on goal while attempting one challenge. The defender and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“Our approach involves a many risks,” Slot explained following the opposition's win. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking players on the field. This is perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defensive personnel on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”