🔗 Share this article Defence Problems Pose Bigger Concern for Slot Compared to Making Alexander Isak and Salah to Fire Now is the moment to commence assessing Alexander Isak equitably as a £125m Anfield striker, Arne Slot remarked on Friday. Therefore, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's most expensive footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League champions tried in vain to secure an leveler against Manchester United in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring forward line that earned the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's backline structure has disappeared. Anonymous Performance from Key Attackers Yes, the Swedish striker was largely anonymous in the No 9 position and Salah subpar once more as his difficulties persisted against the team he typically scores against. The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool member in the 35th minute, well saved by the opposition's new shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah wasted a glorious second-half chance in front of the Kop and neither protest when their numbers were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork three times and somehow was unable to net a second shortly after the defender's decisive goal. Impossible Loss Despite Opportunities It seemed unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a game in which they generated numerous chances, Slot claimed. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, Chelsea and currently United have demonstrated. Backline Breakdown Under Scrutiny While overseeing a fourth consecutive defeat as the club's manager, the first man to do so since Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that allowed the visitors to seize control as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s coaching staff had focused on fixing following the pause, featuring another dead-ball score, it was a display that completely undermined the title holders' after halftime recovery and cost them the match. Momentum Squandered Even with Improvement Momentum was at last with the hosts when Gakpo equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s quick breakthrough. Liverpool could sense one more late victory with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, a midfielder and another forward igniting progress and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another last-gasp Premier League loss, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three opposition members unmarked behind Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute. Purposeful Rivals Excel A powerful goal into the net that Maguire missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the best victory of his challenging club reign. Despite the negativity around the coach it was his squad that performed with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The initial consecutive league wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the outcome. The Liverpool side once more appeared like strangers at points, especially when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth occasion in the Premier League the current campaign. Early Opener Reveals Backline Flaws The home side were found wanting from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the first attempt from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to pass two players to reach the ball, admittedly, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and passed to the winger in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk delayed to recover and follow the forward's movement while the goalkeeper, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle. Officiating and Focus Questions The manager could justifiably point to his decisions and ask why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the concentration and coordination levels his backline. The forward's goal indicates Slot’s team have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the last coming eight games ago at Burnley. Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank The visitors carved open Liverpool’s left flank repeatedly in a opening period in which the midfielder, another player and also the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's lead. Releasing the winger quickly against the full-back was clearly part of the manager's strategy. It worked repeatedly in the first 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from his former club endured another difficult match in a Liverpool shirt. Set-pieces were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly put Mbeumo through while making one challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at present. Manager’s Analysis and Acknowledgment “Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” Slot commented following the opposition's victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had multiple attacking players on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our structure for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defending players on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to improve.”