Liverpool’s return from the October international break felt less like a reset and more like an alarm bell. Manchester United’s win at Anfield, their first there in a decade, exposed a cluster of problems that won’t be solved by platitudes or a tweak to the starting XI.
The scoreline hid how chaotic the contest was: a game that could have swung wildly either way, and one where Liverpool’s frailties were illuminated under pressure.
The big-picture verdict
This was not a slow, inevitable decline so much as a perfect storm of individual errors, unanswered tactical questions and thin cover at center-back. Moments of genius still exist across Liverpool’s team, but they’re now often dependent on opponents gifting chances or on flashes of individual brilliance rather than coherent dominance.
That instability is what should cause concern, not short-term panic.
Amorim’s gamble and the win that mattered
Credit the winner’s manager for daring choices that paid off.
Ruben Amorim reshaped his lineup with moves that looked audacious on paper: benching a price tag striker, reinstating a maligned centre-back and starting a veteran midfielder fresh off long international minutes. Those decisions bought United control in moments and, ultimately, three points. The lesson for Liverpool is clear: opposition coaches are ready to throw tactical darts that land.
Where the game tilted
The match was a rollercoaster of chances and errors. Liverpool carved openings through individual flair, but failed to convert when it mattered. United’s early goal, quick transitions and set-piece ruthlessness turned the pendulum. Two defensive lapses were fatal: a sluggish reaction for the opener and a catastrophic set-piece breakdown for the winner. Those sequences underline a structural weakness rather than a one-off mishap.
The defensive dilemma
Centre-back depth is the clearest headache. Relying on Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté to be flawless every week is unrealistic. Fatigue, minor dips in form and inevitable injuries will take their toll. Until reliable cover arrives or a system change protects the pair, Liverpool will remain vulnerable to teams that exploit transitional moments and set-pieces.
Tactical and selection questions for Slot
How do the creative pieces fit? Dominik Szoboszlai in the No. 10 role offers balance and control, but Florian Wirtz’s status demands a place in the XI. Alexander Isak’s fitness and form complicate forward planning and raise questions about spending and squad structure. Mohamed Salah’s contract, form and the Africa Cup of Nations loom large. Managing his minutes could be prudent, but the team still needs his best version now. Slot must stitch these moving parts into a coherent identity quickly.
Final reality check
This is not a crisis yet, but it is a warning. Liverpool have elite ingredients. What they lack right now is consistency, depth and tactical clarity in key moments. Solve those problems and the season is still very much alive. Ignore them and the small flames seen at Anfield could become something much harder to put out.
