Defence Woes Present Greater Challenge for Liverpool's Manager Compared to Making Isak and Mohamed Salah to Fire

It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak equitably as a £125 million Anfield centre forward, Arne Slot remarked on the weekend. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s costliest footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League champions tried in vain to force an equaliser against their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's misfiring attack that warranted the strongest blame at the stadium. The team's defence has disappeared.

Quiet Performance from Star Attackers

Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly anonymous in the No 9 position and Salah again poor as his difficulties persisted against the team he typically scores against. The Swedish international had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the first half, smartly stopped by United’s new goalkeeper the young keeper. The forward squandered a glorious after the break opportunity facing the home end and neither protest when their numbers eventually. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork on multiple occasions and inexplicably was unable to score a second moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Impossible Defeat In Spite of Opportunities

It seemed unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they generated plenty of opportunities, the manager claimed. But it is possible with a defence in such condition, as one opponent, another rival and now Manchester United have proven.

Defensive Breakdown During Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as the club's head coach, the first person to do so after Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that invited United to dominate as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had worked on eradicating following the international break, including yet another dead-ball score, it was a performance that totally derailed the title holders' second half comeback and lost them the game.

Momentum Squandered Despite Uptick

The upper hand was at last with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. Liverpool could sense another late win with substitutes one attacker, a midfielder and Federico Chiesa igniting progress and the opposition in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after Liverpool’s dead-ball weaknesses resurfaced and Maguire found himself among several United members free behind the centre-back in the 84th minute.

Purposeful Rivals Outperform

A thumping goal into the net that the player blazed over in the dying seconds of last season’s tie gave the United manager the finest victory of his challenging United reign. Despite the negativity surrounding the coach it was his squad that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The initial back-to-back league wins of the manager's reign were the outcome. The Liverpool team again looked like unfamiliar at times, particularly when conceding a dead-ball score for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Early Goal Reveals Defensive Flaws

The home side were exposed from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the first attempt from the captain, a probable consequence of having to pass opponents to connect with the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on Bruno Fernandes when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk delayed to track back and follow the forward's run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the injured first-choice keeper in net, was easily beaten from the angle.

Refereeing and Concentration Issues

The manager could justifiably question his decisions and wonder why the whistle was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious past, but also doubt the focus and coordination among his backline. The forward's goal means Slot’s team have kept only two shutouts in 12 matches so far, the most recent occurring eight games previously at Burnley.

Repeated Exploitation of Left Flank

The visitors exposed Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a first half in which the midfielder, another player and also Gakpo all nearly scored to doubling the away team's lead. Sending the winger early versus the full-back was clearly in Amorim’s tactic. It worked repeatedly in the opening half. The £40 million summer signing from Bournemouth endured a further difficult match in a club jersey. Throw-ins were also a problem for Andy Robertson’s chosen successor, who nearly put the forward in on goal while attempting an interception. The defender and Van Dijk appear on different wavelengths at the moment.

Coach's Analysis and Admission

“Our approach involves a lot of gambles,” the head coach commented after the opposition's victory. “Following the second half we had six or seven attacking players on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our structure for the set-piece was less organized as we typically are. Normally we would have additional defending personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. We know we have to do better.”