🔗 Share this article Defence Woes Pose Larger Concern for Slot Than Getting Isak and Mohamed Salah to Score Now is the moment to begin evaluating Alexander Isak fairly as a record-breaking Liverpool attacker, Arne Slot commented on the weekend. In that case, judgment must be harsh, but as Britain’s highest-priced player sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight champions struggled to force an equaliser against Manchester United without them, it was not the manager's misfiring offence that deserved the strongest blame at the stadium. The team's defensive foundation has evaporated. Anonymous Performance from Star Attackers Indeed, the Swedish striker was predominantly unnoticeable in the centre-forward position and Salah subpar once more as his personal struggles persisted against the team he typically plunders. The Swedish player had his initial attempt on goal in the Premier League as a Reds player in the first half, excellently denied by United’s latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah missed a golden second-half chance in front of the home end and could not complain when their substitution were shown. The Dutch attacker also hit the crossbar three times and somehow was unable to net a second moments after the defender's decisive goal. Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities It ought to have been unthinkable for Liverpool to be defeated in a match in which they generated plenty of chances, the manager claimed. But it is not impossible with a backline in this form, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and currently Manchester United have demonstrated. Backline Breakdown During Pressure While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as Liverpool manager, the first man to achieve this after Brendan Rodgers in years past, the coach must have felt dismayed at a defence display that invited United to take the initiative as well as their first victory at the ground in nearly a decade. Littered with the repeated issues that the team's management had worked on fixing following the international break, including yet another set-piece score, it was a performance that completely undermined the champions’ second half comeback and lost them the match. Momentum Squandered Despite Improvement Momentum was at last with the hosts when Gakpo cancelled out the forward's early opener. Liverpool could feel another last-minute victory with replacements Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward sparking improvement and United in defensive mode. Instead, it was a further last-gasp top-flight defeat, the third in succession, after the team's dead-ball frailties resurfaced and the defender found himself one of three opposition members free past Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages. Organized Opposition Outperform A thumping goal into the net that the player missed in the final moments of last season’s 2-2 draw gave Ruben Amorim the finest victory of his turbulent United reign. Despite the criticism surrounding Amorim it was his team that performed with definite plan and a well-executed approach for the bulk of a thrilling contest. The initial back-to-back Premier League wins of the manager's time in charge were the result. Slot’s team once more looked like strangers at points, particularly when conceding a dead-ball goal for the fifth occasion in the Premier League this season. Early Opener Exposes Backline Issues The home side were lacking from the start to the execution of the attacker's 62-second opener. There was no purchase on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a probable result of having to pass two players to connect with the ball, to be fair, and little challenge on the playmaker when he took possession and passed to the winger in open area on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to react, Van Dijk delayed to recover and follow the forward's run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was easily beaten from the position. Officiating and Concentration Issues The manager could reasonably point to his head and wonder why the foul was from the referee, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also doubt the focus and coordination among his defenders. Mbeumo’s goal indicates Slot’s side have kept only a couple of shutouts in 12 matches this season, the most recent coming many matches previously at another ground. Constant Exploitation of Defensive Side The visitors carved open Liverpool’s left flank frequently in a first half in which Fernandes, Mason Mount and even the attacker all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ advantage. Releasing the winger early versus Kerkez was clearly in the manager's tactic. It succeeded repeatedly in the opening half. The £40 million new arrival from Bournemouth experienced another tough match in a Liverpool shirt. Set-pieces were even a issue for the previous player's replacement, who nearly put the forward through while making one challenge. Kerkez and Van Dijk seem on different wavelengths at the moment. Coach's Analysis and Admission “We take a many risks,” Slot explained following 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 less organized as we typically are. Usually we would have additional defensive personnel on the field. Perhaps it is a coincidence but it is no justification. The team understands we have to do better.”