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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Liverpool striker, Arne Slot stated on the weekend. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s costliest footballer sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the English top-flight title holders struggled to secure an equaliser against Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring offence that earned the strongest criticism at the stadium. The team's defence has disappeared.

Quiet Performance from Star Forwards

Yes, Isak was largely unnoticeable in the centre-forward position and the Egyptian winger again poor as his individual toils continued against the team he typically scores against. The Swedish player had his initial attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Reds player in the 35th minute, excellently denied by the opposition's latest shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward squandered a golden second-half opportunity facing the home end and neither complain when their substitution were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the woodwork on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to net a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Chances

It should have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they created numerous opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently United have shown.

Backline Breakdown Under Pressure

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as the club's head coach, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in years past, Slot must have despaired at a defence display that allowed United to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground since January 2016. Filled with the same mistakes that the team's management had worked on eradicating after the pause, including another dead-ball score, it was a display that completely undermined the champions’ after halftime comeback and lost them the match.

Momentum Lost Despite Improvement

The upper hand was at last with the home side when the substitute cancelled out the forward's quick opener. Liverpool could feel one more late victory with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and United in retreat. Rather, it was another late top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself among several opposition members free behind the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Excel

A thumping header into the goal that the player blazed over in the final moments of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his turbulent club tenure. For all the negativity around the coach it was his squad that played with definite plan and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The initial back-to-back Premier League wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the outcome. Slot’s team once more appeared like strangers at points, particularly when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the division this season.

Quick Opener Exposes Defensive Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the start to the execution of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was little impact on the initial header from the captain, a probable consequence of having to pass two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and passed to the winger in space on the right flank. the defender was late to react, Van Dijk slow to track back and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, filling in for the injured Alisson in net, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Issues

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and wonder where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also question the concentration and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal means the side have kept only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming eight games ago at Burnley.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even the attacker all nearly scored to doubling the away team's advantage. Sending the winger quickly against Kerkez was obviously in the manager's gameplan. It worked time and again in the first half. The £40 million summer signing from Bournemouth experienced another tough evening in a club shirt. Throw-ins were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly put Mbeumo through while making an interception. The defender and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at present.

Coach's Explanation and Admission

“Our approach involves a lot of risks,” Slot explained following the opposition's win. “After the second half we had six or seven attacking members on the field. This is maybe why our structure for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defensive players on the field. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”