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Now is the moment to begin evaluating Alexander Isak equitably as a record-breaking Liverpool striker, the Liverpool head coach remarked on the weekend. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s highest-priced player sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight title holders tried in vain to force an equaliser versus their rivals in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring offence that warranted the strongest criticism at Anfield. His defensive foundation has vanished.

Anonymous Performance from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was mostly unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and Salah again poor as his personal struggles continued against the team he often plunders. The Sweden player had his first attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden after the break chance in front of the Kop and could not protest when their numbers eventually. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and inexplicably failed to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat Despite Chances

It ought to have been impossible for the hosts to lose a game in which they generated numerous chances, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, Chelsea and now Manchester United have shown.

Defensive Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth successive loss as the club's head coach, the first man to do so since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a backline effort that allowed the visitors to dominate as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Filled with the same mistakes that the team's coaching staff had worked on eradicating following the pause, including yet another set-piece goal, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' second half comeback and cost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Despite Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the hosts when the substitute equalized the forward's quick opener. Liverpool could sense one more late win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was a further late top-flight loss, the third straight, after the team's set-piece frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three opposition players free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A thumping goal into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his challenging club reign. Despite the criticism surrounding the coach it was his squad that played with definite plan and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a compelling contest. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of Amorim’s reign were the outcome. Slot’s team once more looked like strangers at points, especially when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth time in the division this season.

Early Goal Reveals Defensive Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the first attempt from the captain, a likely result of having to go through two players to connect with the ball, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he received the ball and passed to the winger in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, the centre-back delayed to track back and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and ask where the whistle was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also question the concentration and coordination levels his defenders. The forward's strike indicates the side have managed only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the last occurring many matches ago at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

United exposed the left side repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also the attacker all came close to increasing the visitors’ lead. Sending Diallo early versus the full-back was obviously in the manager's strategy. It worked time and again in the first half. The £40m summer signing from his former club experienced another tough evening in a club jersey. Throw-ins were even a issue for the previous player's chosen successor, who nearly put the forward in on goal while attempting an challenge. The defender and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” the head coach explained after United’s win. “After the second half we had six or seven offensive members on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defending personnel on the pitch. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”