🔗 Share this article

It is now appropriate to start judging Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Liverpool centre forward, the Liverpool head coach remarked on the weekend. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's highest-priced footballer was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench 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 earned the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. His defensive foundation has vanished.

Quiet Performance from Key Attackers

Yes, Isak was largely anonymous in the centre-forward position and the Egyptian winger again poor as his personal struggles continued versus the club he usually plunders. The Swedish player had his first shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the first half, excellently denied by United’s latest goalkeeper the young keeper. The forward wasted a golden second-half opportunity in front of the home end and neither protest when their numbers were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork three times and inexplicably was unable to score a another goal moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat Despite Opportunities

It ought to have been unthinkable for the hosts to lose a match in which they created plenty of opportunities, Slot stated. But it is not impossible with a backline in current state, as one opponent, Chelsea and now United have proven.

Backline Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth successive loss as Liverpool head coach, the first man to achieve this since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have despaired at a defensive performance that allowed the visitors to take the initiative as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had focused on eradicating after the international break, including another dead-ball goal, it was a display that completely undermined the title holders' after halftime comeback and cost them the game.

Advantage Lost Despite Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. Liverpool could feel one more last-minute victory with replacements one attacker, Curtis Jones and another forward sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United players unmarked behind Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A powerful header into the net that Maguire blazed over in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best win of his turbulent club tenure. For all the negativity around the coach it was his squad that played with clear purpose and a smartly implemented plan for the majority of a compelling contest. The initial back-to-back league victories of the manager's time in charge were the result. Slot’s team again looked like strangers at times, particularly when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the Premier League the current campaign.

Early Goal Reveals Backline Issues

The home side were exposed from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the first attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to pass opponents to connect with the ball, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk delayed to recover and mark Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Focus Issues

The manager could justifiably question his head and ask where the foul was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the concentration and communication levels his backline. Mbeumo’s strike means Slot’s team have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent occurring many matches ago at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open the left side frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing the winger early versus Kerkez was clearly part of Amorim’s tactic. It succeeded time and again in the first 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club experienced another difficult match in a club shirt. Set-pieces were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost sent the forward through while attempting an interception. The defender and the captain seem on not in sync at present.

Manager’s Explanation and Admission

“We take a many risks,” the head coach commented after the opposition's win. “Following the second half we had multiple attacking players on the field. That’s perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have more defensive personnel on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”