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It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Anfield attacker, the Liverpool head coach commented on the weekend. In that case, evaluation needs to be severe, but as the UK's costliest player sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds bench while the Premier League champions attempted unsuccessfully to force an leveler against Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming attack that deserved the strongest scrutiny at Anfield. His defence has evaporated.

Quiet Display from Key Forwards

Yes, the Swedish striker was largely quiet in the No 9 role and the Egyptian winger subpar once more as his personal struggles continued against the team he often plunders. The Sweden international had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by United’s new goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden second-half chance facing the Kop and neither protest when their substitution came up. The Dutch attacker also struck the crossbar on multiple occasions and inexplicably failed to net a another goal moments after the defender's winner.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It should have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they created so many chances, Slot claimed. But it is possible with a defence in current state, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown Under Pressure

As he presided over a fourth straight loss as Liverpool manager, the first man to do so since a previous manager in November 2014, Slot must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that allowed the visitors to dominate as well as their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade. Filled with the repeated issues that Liverpool’s coaching staff had worked on eradicating after the international break, including yet another set-piece score, it was a performance that completely undermined the title holders' second half recovery and lost them the game.

Momentum Lost Even with Improvement

The upper hand was finally with the home side when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. The Merseyside club could sense another late win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward sparking improvement and the opposition in retreat. Rather, it was a further late top-flight loss, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself among several United players unmarked past the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A powerful goal into the goal that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s 2-2 draw gave the United manager the finest win of his turbulent United reign. Despite the negativity surrounding the coach it was his team that played with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The initial back-to-back league wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. Slot’s side again looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the division this season.

Quick Goal Reveals Backline Flaws

The home side were exposed from the start to the finish of the attacker's quick-fire first goal. There was little impact on the initial attempt from the captain, a probable consequence of having to go through opponents to reach the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on the playmaker when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in space on the right. the defender was slow to react, Van Dijk slow to recover and follow the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Officiating and Focus Issues

Slot could justifiably point to his head and ask why the whistle was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the concentration and coordination levels his defenders. The forward's strike means Slot’s team have managed only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

United carved open the left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even Gakpo all nearly scored to increasing the visitors’ advantage. Sending Diallo quickly versus Kerkez was obviously part of the manager's gameplan. It succeeded time and again in the first half. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth endured another tough evening in a Liverpool shirt. Throw-ins were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost sent the forward through while making an interception. Kerkez and the captain seem on different wavelengths at present.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“We take a many gambles,” Slot commented after United’s victory. “After the 62nd minute we had six or seven offensive players on the field. That’s perhaps why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we typically are. Usually we would have more defensive personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”