🔗 Share this article

It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Anfield attacker, Arne Slot stated on Friday. As such, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's costliest player was seated alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight title holders 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 the stadium. The team's backline structure has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Star Attackers

Yes, Isak was predominantly anonymous in the centre-forward position and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his difficulties continued versus the team he usually scores against. The Swedish international had his initial shot on target in the Premier League as a Reds member in the 35th minute, excellently denied by United’s latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. Salah missed a excellent after the break chance facing the Kop and neither protest when their substitution eventually. The Dutch attacker also struck the woodwork three times and somehow failed to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Loss In Spite of Opportunities

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to lose a match in which they created numerous chances, Slot claimed. But it is not impossible with a backline in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have proven.

Defensive Breakdown Under Scrutiny

While overseeing a fourth straight loss as the club's head coach, the first person to do so since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, the coach must have been frustrated at a defence display that invited United to seize control as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that the team's management had worked on eradicating after the pause, including another dead-ball goal, it was a display that completely undermined the champions’ after halftime comeback and cost them the game.

Advantage Squandered Despite Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the hosts when Gakpo equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. The Merseyside club could sense another late win with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was a further late top-flight loss, the third in succession, after the team's set-piece frailties re-emerged and the defender found himself among several United players free past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A thumping goal into the net that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave Ruben Amorim the best victory of his turbulent United reign. For all the negativity surrounding Amorim it was his squad that played with clear purpose and a smartly implemented plan for the majority of a compelling encounter. The initial back-to-back Premier League victories of the manager's reign were the result. The Liverpool team once more looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the Premier League the current campaign.

Quick Opener Reveals Defensive Flaws

The home side were found wanting from the start to the finish of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was little impact on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to go through opponents to connect with the pass, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and passed to the winger in space on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, Van Dijk delayed to track back and follow Mbeumo’s movement while Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the unavailable first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

Slot could justifiably question his head and wonder why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an official with whom he has a feisty past, but also doubt the concentration and communication among his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal means the side have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the last occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Repeated Targeting of Defensive Side

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and even Gakpo all came close to doubling the visitors’ lead. Releasing Diallo early against the full-back was obviously in the manager's gameplan. It worked repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40m new arrival from his former club experienced a further tough match in a club shirt. Throw-ins were also a problem for the previous player's chosen successor, who almost put Mbeumo through while making an interception. Kerkez and the captain seem on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment

“We take a lot of risks,” Slot explained after the opposition's win. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking members on the pitch. That’s maybe why our structure for the dead-ball was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have more defending personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. We know we have to improve.”