🔗 Share this article

The time has come to start judging Alexander Isak justly as a £125 million Liverpool centre forward, the Liverpool head coach stated on the weekend. Therefore, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's most expensive footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League title holders attempted unsuccessfully to force an leveler against their rivals without them, it was not the manager's underperforming forward line that warranted the fiercest blame at Anfield. The team's defence has vanished.

Quiet Performance from Key Forwards

Yes, the Swedish striker was largely quiet in the centre-forward role and Salah disappointing again as his personal struggles persisted versus the club he typically scores against. The Swedish player had his first shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool player in the first half, smartly stopped by the opposition's new shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah wasted a excellent after the break chance facing the Kop and could not complain when their numbers came up. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar three times and inexplicably failed to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Chances

It seemed unthinkable for the hosts to lose a game in which they created numerous opportunities, Slot claimed. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as Crystal Palace, another rival and now Manchester United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth consecutive defeat as Liverpool head coach, the first person to do so since Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have been frustrated at a backline effort that allowed the visitors to take the initiative as well as their first victory at the ground since January 2016. Littered with the identical errors that the team's management had worked on solving after the international break, featuring yet another dead-ball score, it was a display that completely derailed the champions’ after halftime comeback and lost them the match.

Advantage Squandered Despite Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the home side when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. Liverpool could sense another late victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and the opposition in retreat. Rather, it was another last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and Maguire found himself one of three opposition members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Rivals Outperform

A powerful header into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest win of his challenging club tenure. Despite the criticism around Amorim it was his squad that performed with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the majority of a thrilling contest. The initial consecutive Premier League victories of the manager's reign were the outcome. The Liverpool side once more appeared like strangers at times, particularly when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season.

Early Opener Reveals Backline Flaws

Liverpool were lacking from the inception to the execution of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was no purchase on the first attempt from the captain, a probable result of having to go through opponents to connect with the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on the playmaker when he received the ball and passed to Amad Diallo in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, filling in for the injured Alisson in net, was comfortably beaten from the position.

Officiating and Concentration Issues

The manager could reasonably question his head and wonder why the whistle was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and coordination levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal indicates Slot’s side have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the last occurring eight games ago at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

United carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all came close to increasing the away team's advantage. Sending Diallo early against Kerkez was obviously in Amorim’s tactic. It succeeded repeatedly in the opening half. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured another difficult evening in a Liverpool jersey. Throw-ins were also a problem for the previous player's replacement, who almost put Mbeumo in on goal while making one challenge. Kerkez and the captain seem on not in sync at present.

Coach's Explanation and Admission

“Our approach involves a many gambles,” Slot explained after United’s win. “After the second half we had six or seven offensive members on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defensive players on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”