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The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak justly as a £125 million Liverpool attacker, the Liverpool head coach commented on Friday. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s highest-priced footballer was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the English top-flight title holders struggled to force an equaliser versus Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming attack that deserved the harshest criticism at the stadium. His backline structure has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Key Attackers

Yes, the Swedish striker was mostly unnoticeable in the centre-forward role and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his individual toils continued versus the club he usually scores against. The Swedish player had his initial attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s latest shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward missed a excellent after the break chance in front of the Kop and neither complain when their substitution came up. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to score a another goal moments after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss In Spite of Chances

It should have been impossible for the hosts to lose a match in which they created numerous opportunities, Slot stated. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and currently United have shown.

Backline Breakdown During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth straight defeat as the club's head coach, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have been frustrated at a defence display that allowed the visitors to take the initiative as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Filled with the repeated issues that the team's management had worked on solving following the international break, featuring another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that completely derailed the title holders' after halftime comeback and cost them the match.

Advantage Lost Despite Improvement

Momentum was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense another last-minute victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa igniting improvement and the opposition in retreat. Rather, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s set-piece frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three United players free past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Opposition Outperform

A thumping goal into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his turbulent United reign. Despite the criticism surrounding Amorim it was his team that played with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive league victories of the manager's reign were the result. Slot’s side again looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Quick Opener Exposes Backline Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the start to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to go through two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and released the winger in open area on the right. Milos Kerkez was slow to respond, the centre-back delayed to recover and mark Mbeumo’s run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

The manager could reasonably point to his decisions and wonder where the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty past, but also question the focus and communication levels his backline. Mbeumo’s goal indicates Slot’s side have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the last occurring many matches ago at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

United exposed Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and even the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing the winger early versus the full-back was clearly in Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million new arrival from Bournemouth experienced a further difficult match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were even a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost put Mbeumo in on goal while making an interception. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at present.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a many gambles,” the head coach commented after United’s win. “Following the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking players on the field. This is perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we typically are. Usually we would have more defending players on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to do better.”