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The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Anfield striker, the Liverpool head coach stated on Friday. As such, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s most expensive player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the English top-flight champions attempted unsuccessfully to secure an leveler against Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring attack that earned the harshest blame at the stadium. His defensive foundation has evaporated.

Quiet Performance from Star Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely quiet in the centre-forward position and Salah again poor as his difficulties continued against the team he often plunders. The Sweden player had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Reds member in the first half, smartly stopped by the opposition's new shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward squandered a golden after the break chance facing the home end and could not protest when their numbers eventually. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork three times and somehow was unable to net a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Chances

It ought to have been unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a game in which they created numerous chances, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as Crystal Palace, another rival and now United have proven.

Defensive Breakdown During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth straight defeat as Liverpool head coach, the first man to do so after a previous manager in years past, Slot must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that allowed United to take the initiative as well as their initial win at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had focused on solving following the international break, featuring another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that completely derailed the title holders' second half recovery and cost them the match.

Advantage Lost Even with Improvement

Momentum was finally with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. Liverpool could feel one more late victory with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa igniting improvement and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was a further last-gasp top-flight loss, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three United members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A thumping goal into the goal that the player missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the best win of his turbulent United reign. Despite the criticism surrounding Amorim it was his team that performed with obvious strategy and a smartly implemented plan for the majority of a thrilling contest. The initial consecutive Premier League victories of Amorim’s time in charge were the result. Slot’s team once more looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Early Goal Exposes Backline Issues

The home side were exposed from the inception to the finish of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to pass opponents to connect with the ball, to be fair, and no pressure on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was slow to react, the centre-back slow to track back and mark the forward's movement while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

The manager could justifiably question his head and wonder why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also question the focus and coordination among his backline. The forward's strike means the side have kept only two clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the last occurring eight games ago at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors exposed the left flank frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Sending the winger early versus the full-back was clearly part of Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth endured a further difficult match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who nearly sent Mbeumo in on goal while making an interception. Kerkez and the captain appear on not in sync at the moment.

Manager’s Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” Slot commented following the opposition's victory. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking members on the pitch. That’s maybe why our structure for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have more defending personnel on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”