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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak equitably as a record-breaking Anfield striker, the Liverpool head coach remarked on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s most expensive player sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the English top-flight title holders struggled to force an leveler against their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring offence that deserved the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. His backline structure has vanished.

Quiet Display from Key Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils persisted against the club he often plunders. The Swedish player had his initial shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds player in the first half, excellently denied by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden after the break chance facing the Kop and could not protest when their numbers were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to net a another goal moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It should have been unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they created plenty of opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a backline in this form, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have proven.

Defensive Breakdown Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as the club's manager, the first person to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have despaired at a backline effort that allowed the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the same mistakes that the team's coaching staff had focused on eradicating following the pause, featuring yet another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that totally derailed the title holders' second half comeback and lost them the match.

Momentum Lost Even with Improvement

Momentum was finally with the hosts when the substitute equalized the forward's early opener. The Merseyside club could sense another last-minute win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward igniting progress and United in retreat. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three United members free past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A powerful goal into the goal that the player missed in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave the United manager the finest win of his challenging club reign. For all the negativity surrounding the coach it was his squad that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed approach for the majority of a compelling contest. The first back-to-back Premier League wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the result. The Liverpool side again appeared like strangers at times, particularly when allowing a set-piece score for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Quick 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 likely result of having to pass two players to connect with the ball, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right. the defender was slow to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Issues

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and ask where the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the focus and communication levels his defenders. The forward's goal indicates the team have kept only a couple of shutouts in a dozen games so far, the last occurring eight games ago at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors exposed the left side frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Releasing Diallo quickly versus Kerkez was obviously part of the manager's tactic. It succeeded repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced another difficult evening in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were also a problem for the previous player's replacement, who almost sent the forward in on goal while attempting an challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a many risks,” the head coach explained following United’s win. “Following the second half we had six or seven attacking members on the field. This is perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we typically are. Usually we would have additional defensive players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”