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The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Anfield attacker, the Liverpool head coach commented on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's highest-priced player sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight title holders tried in vain to secure an equaliser versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming forward line that deserved the strongest blame at the stadium. His backline structure has evaporated.

Anonymous Performance from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his personal struggles continued against the club he often plunders. The Swedish international had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Reds player in the first half, smartly stopped by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward squandered a glorious after the break opportunity in front of the Kop and neither protest when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar three times and somehow was unable to net a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s winner.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Opportunities

It seemed impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated numerous chances, Slot remarked. But it is not impossible with a backline in this form, as one opponent, another rival and now Manchester United have shown.

Defensive Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as the club's manager, the first person to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have been frustrated at a defence display that invited United to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the identical errors that Liverpool’s management had worked on fixing after the international break, featuring another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that totally derailed the champions’ second half recovery and lost them the match.

Advantage Lost Despite Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the home side when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. The Merseyside club could feel one more late win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another late top-flight loss, the third straight, after the team's dead-ball frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several opposition members free past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Excel

A thumping header into the goal that the player missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his turbulent club reign. Despite the negativity around the coach it was his team that played with obvious strategy and a smartly implemented plan for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive league wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the outcome. The Liverpool team again appeared like strangers at points, particularly when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the Premier League this season.

Early Opener Reveals Backline Flaws

The home side were exposed from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was no purchase on the initial header from the captain, a probable result of having to go through two players to connect with the pass, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he received the ball and passed to Amad Diallo in space on the right. the defender was late to react, the centre-back delayed to recover and mark the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Issues

The manager could reasonably point to his head and ask why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and communication levels his backline. Mbeumo’s strike means Slot’s team have managed only two shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming eight games ago at another ground.

Repeated Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left side repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ lead. Sending the winger quickly against Kerkez was obviously in Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth endured another difficult evening in a club jersey. Throw-ins were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost put the forward through while attempting an interception. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a many risks,” Slot commented after the opposition's win. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple offensive players on the field. This is maybe why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defensive players on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”