🔗 Share this article Defence Issues Present Bigger Concern for Slot Than Making Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah to Score The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Anfield centre forward, Arne Slot commented on Friday. In that case, the assessment should be critical, but as the UK's highest-priced footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the English top-flight title holders tried in vain to force an equaliser versus their rivals without them, it was not the manager's underperforming forward line that deserved the strongest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's defence has vanished. Anonymous Performance from Key Attackers Yes, the Swedish striker was mostly anonymous in the centre-forward role and Salah again poor as his difficulties 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 the opposition's latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward wasted a golden second-half opportunity facing the home end and neither complain when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the woodwork on multiple occasions and somehow was unable to net a another goal moments after the defender's winner. Unthinkable Defeat In Spite of Chances It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a match in which they generated plenty of opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now Manchester United have proven. Backline Breakdown Under Pressure While overseeing a fourth consecutive defeat as Liverpool manager, the first person to achieve this after a previous manager in years past, the coach must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that invited United to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had focused on solving following the pause, including another dead-ball score, it was a display that completely derailed the title holders' second half comeback and cost them the game. Momentum Lost Even with Uptick The upper hand was finally with the hosts when Gakpo equalized the forward's quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could feel another last-minute victory with replacements one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking improvement and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further late top-flight defeat, the third straight, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself one of three opposition players unmarked behind the centre-back in the closing stages. Organized Opposition Outperform A powerful goal into the net that the player blazed over in the final moments of last season’s tie gave the United manager the finest victory of his turbulent United tenure. Despite the criticism surrounding the coach it was his squad that performed with definite plan and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The initial consecutive Premier League victories of Amorim’s reign were the result. The Liverpool team again looked like unfamiliar at points, especially when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth time in the Premier League this season. Quick Goal Exposes Backline Flaws The home side were exposed from the start to the execution of the attacker's 62-second first goal. There was little impact on the first header 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 Amad Diallo in space on the right. the defender was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and mark the forward's movement while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the position. Officiating and Focus Questions The manager could reasonably point to his head and wonder where the whistle was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also question the concentration and coordination levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal means the side have kept only a couple of shutouts in a dozen games this season, the most recent coming many matches previously at Burnley. Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and also Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ lead. Releasing the winger early against the full-back was clearly part of Amorim’s strategy. It worked repeatedly in the opening half. The £40m summer signing from his former club endured a further difficult match in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were even a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost put the forward through while attempting one interception. The defender and Van Dijk appear on not in sync at present. Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment “We take a many gambles,” Slot explained following the opposition's victory. “Following the second half we had six or seven attacking members on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have more defending personnel on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”