🔗 Share this article

It is now appropriate to commence assessing Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Liverpool striker, the Liverpool head coach stated on Friday. In that case, evaluation needs to be severe, but as Britain’s costliest player was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool substitutes while the Premier League champions attempted unsuccessfully to force an equaliser versus their rivals in their absence, it was not the manager's underperforming forward line that earned the fiercest criticism at the stadium. His defensive foundation has disappeared.

Anonymous Performance from Star Forwards

Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly anonymous in the No 9 role and Salah subpar once more as his individual toils continued versus the club he usually scores against. The Swedish player had his initial shot on target in the top division as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, smartly stopped by the opposition's latest shot-stopper Senne Lammens. The forward missed a golden after the break opportunity facing the Kop and neither protest when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the woodwork three times and somehow was unable to net a another goal moments after Harry Maguire’s decisive goal.

Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities

It seemed unthinkable for the hosts to be defeated in a match in which they created so many opportunities, Slot remarked. But it is not impossible with a defence in such condition, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have demonstrated.

Defensive Breakdown Under Scrutiny

As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as Liverpool manager, the first person to do so since a previous manager in November 2014, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defence display that invited United to dominate as well as their initial win at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that the team'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 cost them the match.

Momentum Lost Despite Improvement

Momentum was finally with the hosts when Gakpo equalized the forward's early opener. The Merseyside club could sense one more late win with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa igniting improvement and the opposition in retreat. Rather, it was a further late Premier League loss, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece weaknesses resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three United members free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the 84th minute.

Organized Opposition Outperform

A powerful goal into the goal that the player blazed over in the final moments of the previous campaign's tie gave Ruben Amorim the finest win of his challenging club reign. For all the negativity around the coach it was his squad that performed with clear purpose and a well-executed plan for the bulk of a thrilling encounter. The first consecutive Premier League wins of the manager's reign were the result. Slot’s side again appeared like strangers at points, especially when conceding a set-piece score for the fifth time in the division the current campaign.

Quick Opener Exposes Backline Flaws

Liverpool were exposed from the inception to the finish of Mbeumo’s quick-fire first goal. There was no purchase on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to pass two players to reach the pass, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to Amad Diallo in open area on the right flank. Milos Kerkez was slow to react, Van Dijk delayed to track back and mark Mbeumo’s run while Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in for the injured Alisson in net, was easily beaten from the position.

Refereeing and Focus Issues

Slot could justifiably question his head and wonder where the whistle was from the referee, an official with whom he has a feisty history, but also doubt the concentration and coordination levels his backline. Mbeumo’s strike indicates Slot’s team have managed only two clean sheets in 12 matches this season, the last coming eight games ago at another ground.

Constant Targeting of Left Flank

United carved open the left flank repeatedly in a first half in which Fernandes, another player and also the attacker all came close to increasing the away team's lead. Sending Diallo quickly against the full-back was clearly in Amorim’s gameplan. It succeeded repeatedly in the opening 45 minutes. The £40m summer signing from his former club endured another difficult evening in a club shirt. Throw-ins were even a problem for the previous player's replacement, who almost put Mbeumo through while attempting an challenge. The defender and Van Dijk seem on not in sync at the moment.

Manager’s Explanation and Acknowledgment

“We take a many gambles,” the head coach commented after the opposition's victory. “After the 62nd minute we had multiple offensive members on the pitch. That’s perhaps why our structure for the set-piece was less organized as we usually are. Normally we would have additional defensive players on the pitch. Maybe it is a fluke but it is no justification. We know we have to do better.”