Liverpool analysis: Slot’s troubles deepenpublished at 09:48 BST
Liverpool 1-2 Man Utd
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer
Liverpool’s fourth successive loss was barely thinkable after the ease with which they won last season’s Premier League title, then built on that triumph by spending almost £450m on new talent.
The champions have been short of their best since the season started, with a series of dramatic wins snatched by late goals starting to become a distant memory after this latest defeat – insult added to injury by the fact it was inflicted by bitter rivals Manchester United at their Anfield fortress.
Liverpool’s defensive vulnerability has been consistently exposed all season, with United taking fewer than two minutes to inflict punishment, although whether referee Oliver should have stopped play for Mac Allister’s head injury is a serious point of debate.
It must be said Liverpool did not enjoy much luck, the woodwork struck three times, but they were, on too many occasions, ponderous and looking short of ideas – and also felt the wrath of their own supporters as frustrations grew.
Their last chance was a stoppage-time header Gakpo somehow diverted wide, leaving Liverpool’s fans in despair and the United followers jubilant.
What was portrayed as a Liverpool blip now looks like it may be something more.
