🔗 Share this article Defence Woes Pose Greater Concern for Liverpool's Manager Compared to Getting Alexander Isak and Salah to Perform The time has come to commence assessing Alexander Isak justly as a record-breaking Anfield striker, Arne Slot commented on the weekend. Therefore, the assessment should be critical, but as Britain’s costliest footballer was seated next to Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the English top-flight title holders tried in vain to force an leveler against Manchester United in their absence, it was not Slot’s misfiring forward line that earned the fiercest scrutiny at the stadium. The team's backline structure has disappeared. Anonymous Performance from Key Forwards Yes, the Swedish striker was largely quiet in the No 9 position and Salah disappointing again as his individual toils continued versus the club he often scores against. The Sweden player had his first shot on target in the top division as a Reds player in the 35th minute, well saved by United’s new shot-stopper the young keeper. The forward missed a golden after the break opportunity in front of the Kop and neither protest when their numbers were shown. Cody Gakpo also struck the crossbar three times and inexplicably was unable to net a another goal moments after the defender's winner. Unthinkable Loss Despite Opportunities It should have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they generated plenty of chances, the manager remarked. But it is possible with a backline in this form, as one opponent, Chelsea and now Manchester United have proven. Backline Collapse Under Pressure While overseeing a fourth successive defeat as the club's manager, the first person to achieve this since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have been frustrated at a defensive performance that allowed United to seize control as well as their initial win at Anfield in nearly a decade. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool’s management had worked on solving after the international break, featuring another set-piece goal, it was a performance that completely derailed the champions’ after halftime comeback and lost them the game. Advantage Squandered Despite Uptick Momentum was finally with the home side when the substitute cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s quick opener. Liverpool could sense one more late win with substitutes Hugo Ekitiké, Curtis Jones and another forward sparking improvement and United in defensive mode. Rather, it was a further last-gasp Premier League defeat, the third straight, after Liverpool’s set-piece weaknesses re-emerged and the defender found himself among several United members free behind Ibrahima Konaté in the closing stages. Organized Opposition Excel A thumping header into the net that the player missed in the dying seconds of the previous campaign's 2-2 draw gave the United manager the best victory of his turbulent United reign. Despite the negativity around the coach it was his team that played with clear purpose and a smartly implemented approach for the majority of a thrilling contest. The initial back-to-back league victories of the manager's reign were the result. The Liverpool team once more looked like unfamiliar at points, especially when conceding a set-piece goal for the fifth occasion in the Premier League the current campaign. Early Opener Reveals Defensive Flaws The home side were lacking from the inception to the execution of Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener. There was little impact on the first header from Virgil van Dijk, a likely result of having to pass two players to connect with the pass, to be fair, and no pressure on Bruno Fernandes when he received the ball and released Amad Diallo in space on the right. Milos Kerkez was late to respond, the centre-back delayed to track back and mark the forward's run while the goalkeeper, deputising for the unavailable Alisson in goal, was comfortably beaten from the angle. Refereeing and Concentration Questions Slot could justifiably question his decisions and wonder why the foul was from Michael Oliver, an referee with whom he has a contentious history, but also question the focus and communication levels his defenders. Mbeumo’s strike means Slot’s side have kept only a couple of clean sheets in a dozen games this season, the last coming many matches previously at another ground. Repeated Exploitation of Defensive Side United carved open the left flank frequently in a opening period in which Fernandes, another player and also the attacker all nearly scored to doubling the visitors’ lead. Sending the winger early versus Kerkez was clearly in the manager's strategy. It worked time and again in the first half. The £40m new arrival from Bournemouth endured a further difficult match in a club jersey. Throw-ins were even a issue for the previous player's chosen successor, who almost put Mbeumo in on goal while making one interception. The defender and the captain seem on different wavelengths at the moment. Coach's Analysis and Acknowledgment “We take a many risks,” Slot commented after United’s victory. “Following the 62nd minute we had six or seven attacking players on the pitch. This is perhaps why our organization for the dead-ball was less organized as we usually are. Usually we would have additional defensive players on the pitch. Perhaps it is a fluke but it is not an excuse. The team understands we have to improve.”