"In that case judgment must be harsh but, as Britain's most expensive footballer sat alongside Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool bench while the Premier League champions tried in vain to force an equaliser against Manchester United without them, it was not Slot's misfiring forward line that warranted the fiercest criticism at Anfield. His defensive foundation has evaporated. Yes, Isak was largely anonymous in the No 9 role and Salah again poor as his individual toils continued against the club he usually plunders."
"The Sweden international had his first shot on target in the Premier League as a Liverpool player in the 35th minute, well saved by United's latest goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Salah squandered a glorious second-half chance in front of the Kop and neither could complain when their numbers eventually came up. Cody Gakpo also struck the woodwork three times and somehow failed to score a second moments after Harry Maguire's winner. It should have been impossible for Liverpool to lose a game in which they created so many chances, Slot claimed."
"But it is not impossible with a defence in this form, as Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now United have proven. As he presided over a fourth successive defeat as Liverpool head coach, the first man to do so since Brendan Rodgers in November 2014, Slot must have despaired at a defensive performance that invited United to take the initiative as well as their first victory at Anfield since January 2016. Littered with the same mistakes that Liverpool's coaching staff had worked on eradicating after the international break, including another set-piece goal, it was a display that completely derailed the champions' second half recovery and cost them the game."
Alexander Isak is being assessed as a £125m Liverpool centre forward while he and Mohamed Salah sat on the bench during the Manchester United match. Liverpool’s defensive foundation has evaporated, allowing opponents to take the initiative and score from mistakes including set pieces. Isak was largely anonymous in the No 9 role, registering his first Premier League shot on target in the 35th minute, saved by Senne Lammens. Salah missed a gilt-edged second-half chance and Cody Gakpo struck the woodwork three times. Liverpool created numerous chances but defensive lapses derailed the comeback, producing a fourth successive defeat and United’s first Anfield win since January 2016.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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