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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak equitably as a £125m Anfield centre forward, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. Therefore, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's costliest footballer was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the English top-flight title holders tried in vain to force an equaliser against their rivals without them, it was not Slot’s underperforming offence that deserved the fiercest criticism at Anfield. His defence has evaporated.

Anonymous Display from Key Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely unnoticeable in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his individual toils persisted versus the team he usually scores against. The Swedish international had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds member in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward squandered a excellent after the break chance in front of the home end and neither complain when their substitution were shown. Cody Gakpo also hit the crossbar three times and somehow failed to score a second shortly after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It ought to have been impossible for the hosts to lose a match in which they created numerous opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is possible with a backline in current state, as Crystal Palace, another rival and currently Manchester United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown During Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth straight defeat as Liverpool manager, the first man to achieve this since a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have been frustrated at a backline effort that allowed the visitors to dominate as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s management had worked on eradicating following the international break, including another set-piece score, it was a performance that totally undermined the champions’ second half comeback and cost them the match.

Momentum Lost Despite Uptick

The upper hand was finally with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early opener. Liverpool could sense one more last-minute win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was another late Premier League loss, the third straight, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself among several opposition players unmarked behind the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Excel

A thumping goal into the goal that the player missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave the United manager the finest win of his turbulent club reign. For all the criticism around Amorim it was his team that performed with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The first back-to-back Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the outcome. Slot’s side again appeared like unfamiliar at times, especially when allowing a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the division this season.

Early Goal Reveals Defensive Issues

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s 62-second opener. There was little impact on the initial header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to go through opponents to reach the ball, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to the winger in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, the centre-back delayed to track back and follow the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

Slot could justifiably question his decisions and wonder why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the focus and communication levels his backline. The forward's strike means Slot’s side have kept only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming many matches previously at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

The visitors carved open the left side repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all came close to doubling the visitors’ lead. Sending the winger early versus Kerkez was obviously part of Amorim’s tactic. It worked repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from his former club endured another tough evening in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were even a issue for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly sent the forward in on goal while attempting one challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at present.

Coach's Explanation and Admission

“We take a many risks,” the head coach commented following United’s win. “Following the second half we had multiple offensive players on the pitch. This is maybe why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”