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Now is the moment to begin evaluating Alexander Isak justly as a £125 million Anfield striker, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's highest-priced footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League champions struggled to secure an equaliser versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring forward line that warranted the harshest scrutiny at Anfield. His backline structure has vanished.

Anonymous Performance from Star Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly quiet in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his difficulties persisted versus the team he usually scores against. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the top division as a Reds member in the first half, smartly stopped by the opposition's latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward squandered a golden second-half opportunity facing the home end and could not complain when their substitution came up. The Dutch attacker also struck the woodwork on multiple occasions and somehow failed to net a another goal shortly after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Opportunities

It ought to have been unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated numerous opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as Crystal Palace, another rival and now United have shown.

Backline Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth consecutive defeat as the club's head coach, the first person to do so since a previous manager in years past, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that invited United to dominate as well as their initial win at Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the identical errors that Liverpool’s management had focused on eradicating following the international break, including yet another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that totally undermined the title holders' second half comeback and cost them the game.

Momentum Lost Despite Improvement

Momentum was at last with the home side when the substitute cancelled out the forward's quick opener. The Merseyside club could feel one more late victory with replacements one attacker, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight loss, the third straight, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three United members unmarked behind the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Excel

A thumping header into the goal that the player missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his challenging United tenure. For all the negativity surrounding Amorim it was his squad that performed with definite plan and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a compelling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of the manager's reign were the result. Slot’s side once more appeared like unfamiliar at times, especially when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the division the current campaign.

Early Opener Exposes Backline Issues

The home side were lacking from the start to the execution of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the first attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to go through two players to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in space on the right. the defender was late to respond, Van Dijk slow to track back and mark Mbeumo’s movement while the goalkeeper, deputising for the injured Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Questions

Slot could reasonably point to his decisions and ask where the whistle was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also question the concentration and communication levels his defenders. The forward's goal means the team have kept only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last occurring eight games ago at another ground.

Repeated Targeting of Left Flank

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 lead. Releasing the winger early against the full-back was clearly in the manager's tactic. It succeeded time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from Bournemouth experienced another difficult evening in a club jersey. Throw-ins were even a problem for the previous player's replacement, who almost sent Mbeumo in on goal while attempting one interception. Kerkez and the captain appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“We take a lot of gambles,” Slot commented following United’s victory. “Following the second half we had six or seven attacking players on the field. This is perhaps why our structure for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have more defending players on the field. Maybe it is a coincidence but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”