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The time has come to start judging Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Liverpool striker, Arne Slot commented on the weekend. Therefore, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s costliest footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to force an leveler versus their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming attack that deserved the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's defence has vanished.

Anonymous Display from Star Forwards

Yes, Isak was largely unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his individual toils continued versus the team he often scores against. The Swedish player had his initial shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds player in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's new shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah wasted a golden after the break opportunity facing the Kop and neither complain when their numbers were shown. The Dutch attacker also struck the woodwork three times and somehow was unable to net a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat In Spite of Chances

It seemed unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they generated so many chances, Slot remarked. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now Manchester United have proven.

Backline Collapse During Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth successive loss as the club's manager, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have been frustrated at a defence display that invited United to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s management had worked on fixing following the international break, featuring yet another dead-ball score, it was a display that totally derailed the champions’ second half comeback and cost them the game.

Advantage Lost Despite Improvement

Momentum was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel one more late win with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and another forward sparking improvement and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was another last-gasp top-flight loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three United players unmarked behind Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A thumping header into the goal that the player missed in the final moments of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the best win of his challenging United reign. Despite the criticism around Amorim it was his team that played with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling contest. The initial consecutive Premier League victories of the manager's time in charge were the outcome. Slot’s side again appeared like strangers at points, especially when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Quick Goal Reveals Backline Issues

Liverpool were found wanting from the start to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to go through opponents to reach the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and released the winger in space on the right flank. the defender was slow to react, the centre-back slow to track back and mark Mbeumo’s movement while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Questions

The manager could reasonably question his decisions and wonder why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a contentious history, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal indicates the team have managed only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games so far, the last occurring many matches previously at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

The visitors carved open Liverpool’s left side repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also the attacker all came close to increasing the away team's lead. Sending the winger early versus Kerkez was clearly in Amorim’s gameplan. It worked repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced another tough evening in a Liverpool jersey. Set-pieces were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost sent the forward in on goal while attempting an interception. Kerkez and the captain seem on different wavelengths at present.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“We take a lot of risks,” Slot commented following the opposition's win. “Following the second half we had six or seven offensive players on the field. That’s perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defending players on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”