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Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak justly as a record-breaking Anfield striker, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s costliest footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the Premier League champions tried in vain to secure an leveler against Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming attack that deserved the strongest criticism at the stadium. His defensive foundation has vanished.

Quiet Display from Key Forwards

Yes, Isak was largely quiet in the No 9 position and Salah subpar once more as his difficulties continued against the club he often plunders. The Sweden player had his first shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s new shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward wasted a excellent second-half opportunity in front of the home end and could not protest when their substitution came up. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably failed to net a another goal shortly after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat Despite Chances

It should have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they created numerous opportunities, the manager remarked. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, another rival and currently Manchester United have shown.

Backline Breakdown Under Pressure

While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as the club's manager, the first man to achieve this after a previous manager in years past, Slot must have despaired at a backline effort that allowed the visitors to take the initiative as well as their initial win at the ground since January 2016. Filled with the same mistakes that the team's management had worked on eradicating after the international break, including another dead-ball goal, it was a display that totally derailed the champions’ after halftime recovery and cost them the game.

Advantage Lost Despite Uptick

Momentum was finally with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early opener. The Merseyside club could feel another late win with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa igniting improvement and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another late Premier League loss, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball frailties resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several United players free past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A powerful header into the net that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave the United manager the finest win of his challenging United reign. Despite the negativity surrounding the coach it was his squad that played with obvious strategy and a smartly implemented plan for the bulk of a compelling contest. The first back-to-back league wins of the manager's reign were the outcome. The Liverpool team again appeared like strangers at points, especially when allowing a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Quick Goal Reveals Backline Flaws

Liverpool were exposed from the start to the execution of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the initial attempt from the captain, a probable consequence of having to pass two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released the winger in space on the right flank. the defender was slow to react, Van Dijk slow to track back and follow the forward's movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Issues

The manager could justifiably question his decisions and ask where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the focus and coordination levels his backline. Mbeumo’s strike means Slot’s team have kept only a couple of shutouts in a dozen games so far, the last occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side

United carved open the left flank frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and also the attacker all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ advantage. Releasing the winger early against Kerkez was obviously part of the manager's gameplan. It succeeded repeatedly in the first half. The £40 million new arrival from his former club experienced a further difficult evening in a club shirt. Throw-ins were even a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who almost put the forward in on goal while attempting one interception. The defender and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at the moment.

Coach's Explanation and Acknowledgment

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” Slot commented following United’s win. “Following the second half we had multiple offensive members on the pitch. That’s maybe why our structure for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defending players on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”