🔗 Share this article Defence Problems Pose Greater Challenge for Slot Than Making Isak and Salah to Score Now is the moment to start judging Alexander Isak justly as a £125m Liverpool attacker, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. As such, judgment must be harsh, but as the UK's most expensive footballer sat next to Mohamed Salah on the Reds substitutes while the Premier League title holders tried in vain to secure an equaliser against Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's underperforming offence that warranted the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. His defence has evaporated. Quiet Display from Key Attackers Yes, Isak was predominantly anonymous in the No 9 position and the Egyptian winger disappointing again as his individual toils persisted against the team he usually plunders. The Swedish international had his first attempt on goal in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, well saved by the opposition's new shot-stopper the young keeper. Salah wasted a excellent second-half chance facing the Kop and could not protest when their substitution came up. Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and inexplicably failed to net a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal. Unthinkable Loss Despite Chances It should have been impossible for the hosts to be defeated in a game in which they generated so many chances, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a defence in this form, as one opponent, another rival and currently Manchester United have proven. Defensive Breakdown Under Pressure As he presided over a fourth consecutive loss as Liverpool head coach, the first person to achieve this since a previous manager in years past, Slot must have felt dismayed at a defensive performance that invited United to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the identical errors that the team's coaching staff had worked on eradicating after the pause, including yet another dead-ball goal, it was a performance that completely derailed the title holders' second half comeback and lost them the game. Advantage Squandered Even with Uptick The upper hand was at last with the hosts when the substitute equalized Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. Liverpool could sense one more last-minute victory with substitutes one attacker, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa sparking progress and the opposition in retreat. Instead, it was another late top-flight loss, the third straight, after the team's set-piece weaknesses re-emerged and Maguire found himself one of three United players unmarked past Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute. Purposeful Opposition Outperform A thumping header into the goal that Maguire missed in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his challenging United reign. For all the negativity around the coach it was his squad that performed with clear purpose and a smartly implemented approach for the bulk of a compelling encounter. The first back-to-back league wins of Amorim’s time in charge were the result. Slot’s team again looked like strangers at points, particularly when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth time in the Premier League this season. Early Goal Reveals Defensive Issues The home side were found wanting from the start to the execution of the attacker's quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely consequence of having to go through opponents to connect with the pass, admittedly, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in space on the right flank. the defender was late to respond, Van Dijk slow to track back and mark the forward's run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the unavailable Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the position. Officiating and Focus Questions The manager could reasonably question his decisions and ask where the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the focus and communication among his backline. The forward's strike indicates the side have kept only two clean sheets in 12 matches so far, the last coming eight games ago at another ground. Repeated Exploitation of Defensive Side United carved open Liverpool’s left side repeatedly in a first half in which the midfielder, Mason Mount and even the attacker all came close to doubling the away team's advantage. Sending the winger early versus Kerkez was obviously in Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded time and again in the opening 45 minutes. The £40 million summer signing from his former club endured another tough evening in a Liverpool shirt. Set-pieces were also a issue for Andy Robertson’s replacement, who almost sent the forward through while attempting an interception. The defender and the captain appear on not in sync at the moment. Manager’s Explanation and Acknowledgment “Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” the head coach commented after United’s win. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple offensive players on the field. That’s maybe why our organization for the set-piece was not as perfect as we usually are. Normally we would have more defensive personnel on the field. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. The team understands we have to improve.”