Defensive frailties give Slot a far bigger headache than getting Isak and Salah to fire

The time has come to start judging Alexander Isak fairly as a £125m Liverpool centre forward, Arne Slot said on Friday.

- Andy Hunter Anfield

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.