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The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a £125 million Liverpool striker, Arne Slot commented on Friday. As such, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's highest-priced player sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League champions tried in vain to force an leveler against Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that earned the harshest scrutiny at Anfield. His defence has disappeared.

Anonymous Performance from Star Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly anonymous in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his difficulties continued against the club he typically scores against. The Swedish player had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool member in the first half, excellently denied by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward wasted a glorious second-half chance facing the Kop and could not protest when their substitution came up. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar three times and inexplicably was unable to net a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It should have been unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created numerous opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown During Pressure

As he presided over a fourth successive loss as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defence display that invited United to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that the team's coaching staff had focused on solving after the pause, including yet another set-piece goal, it was a display that completely undermined the title holders' second half comeback and cost them the match.

Momentum Squandered Even with Uptick

Momentum was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel one more last-minute victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was a further late top-flight loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several United members free past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A powerful header into the net that the player blazed over in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest victory of his challenging club reign. Despite the negativity surrounding the coach it was his team that played with definite plan and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The initial consecutive Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. The Liverpool team again looked like unfamiliar at points, particularly when allowing a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Early Goal Exposes Defensive Issues

Liverpool were exposed from the start to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to pass two players to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released the winger in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, the centre-back delayed to track back and mark Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured Alisson in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

The manager could reasonably question his head and ask where the whistle was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the focus and communication levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike indicates the side have kept only two clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the most recent occurring eight games ago at another ground.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

United exposed the left side repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing the winger quickly against the full-back was obviously part of the manager's tactic. It worked time and again in the opening half. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced another difficult evening in a club shirt. Set-pieces were even a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost put Mbeumo in on goal while making an challenge. The defender and the captain seem on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” the head coach explained following United’s win. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking members on the field. That’s maybe why our structure for the set-piece was less organized as we typically are. Usually we would have more defending players on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”