Defence Issues Pose Larger Challenge for Slot Than Making Alexander Isak and Salah to Fire

It is now appropriate to begin evaluating Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Liverpool striker, the Liverpool head coach remarked on the weekend. In that case, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight champions tried in vain to force an equaliser against Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s underperforming attack that warranted the strongest scrutiny at Anfield. The team's backline structure has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was largely quiet in the No 9 role and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his personal struggles continued versus the club he often scores against. The Sweden international had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the first half, well saved by the opposition's new goalkeeper the young keeper. Salah squandered a glorious after the break chance in front of the Kop and could not complain when their substitution came up. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar three times and inexplicably failed to score a another goal shortly after the defender's decisive goal.

Unthinkable Defeat Despite Chances

It seemed impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated numerous chances, Slot claimed. But it is possible with a backline in this form, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently United have demonstrated.

Backline Collapse Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth consecutive defeat as the club's manager, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have despaired at a defence display that invited the visitors to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s coaching staff had focused on solving following the international break, featuring yet another set-piece goal, it was a display that completely undermined the title holders' after halftime comeback and lost them the match.

Advantage Lost Even with Uptick

Momentum was at last with the hosts when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. Liverpool could sense another late win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward igniting improvement and United in retreat. Instead, it was another last-gasp top-flight loss, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three opposition members free past the centre-back in the closing stages.

Purposeful Rivals Excel

A powerful goal into the goal that Maguire blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest victory of his turbulent club reign. For all the negativity surrounding Amorim it was his team that played with obvious strategy and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a thrilling encounter. The initial back-to-back league victories of the manager's reign were the outcome. The Liverpool team once more appeared like strangers at points, especially when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the Premier League the current campaign.

Quick Opener Reveals Backline Issues

The home side were lacking from the inception to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a probable consequence of having to pass opponents to connect with the ball, admittedly, and little challenge 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 delayed to recover and mark Mbeumo’s run while the goalkeeper, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Concentration Questions

Slot could justifiably point to his decisions and ask why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and coordination levels his backline. The forward's goal means the side have managed only a couple of clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the most recent coming many matches ago at Burnley.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open Liverpool’s left side frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also the attacker all came close to increasing the away team's advantage. Sending the winger quickly versus the full-back was obviously part of Amorim’s strategy. It succeeded time and again in the opening half. The £40m summer signing from his former club endured a further difficult match in a club jersey. Throw-ins were also a issue for the previous player's replacement, who almost put Mbeumo through while making one interception. The defender and the captain appear on not in sync at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“We take a lot of risks,” Slot commented after the opposition's victory. “After the second half we had six or seven offensive players on the pitch. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defensive personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”