Arne Slot Liverpool side endured another frustrating night at Anfield as Manchester United claimed a 2-1 victory, extending the Reds’ run of disappointing results.
Following three straight defeats before the international break, fans had hoped for a response a performance to restore pride. Instead, they were left questioning team selections, tactics, and the starting XI once again.
The team was left unchanged from the loss to Chelsea prior to the break, a decision that immediately showed in the early stages of the game. Liverpool looked sluggish and struggled to find cohesion, leaving themselves vulnerable at the back.
Bryan Mbeumo capitalised on a rare misstep from Virgil van Dijk to give Manchester United an early lead, a moment that perfectly illustrated the Reds’ defensive fragility. That lapse set the tone for a first half in which Liverpool struggled to assert themselves, unable to impose their usual intensity and dominance at Anfield.
It was a familiar story for fans, highlighting the urgency with which the team needs to address lapses in concentration and communication in key moments.
Perhaps the most talked-about aspect of the match was Arne Slot’s decision to leave Hugo Ekitike on the bench. The Frenchman, who has already proven himself as a dangerous goal threat in the Premier League with three goals this season, was overlooked in favour of Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s £125 million forward.
While Isak worked hard and gave his best performance under the circumstances, it was clear that this particular game did not play to his strengths. Ekitike’s absence from the starting XI left fans and analysts questioning whether the Reds missed an opportunity to field a more natural finisher, someone capable of exploiting Cody Gakpo’s movement and positioning.
Hindsight, as Slot himself would later acknowledge, makes these choices easier to critique. The game suggested that Ekitike could have made a significant impact from the start, potentially altering the outcome.
While the starting XI struggled, Liverpool’s substitutes offered glimmers of hope. Florian Wirtz brought energy and creativity after coming on, immediately adding a different dimension to Liverpool’s attack. His performance sent a clear message that he could have been considered for a starting role.
Even more eye-catching was Hugo Ekitike, whose cameo appearance turned heads. Jeremie Frimpong, despite only featuring for ten minutes, made a notable contribution by creating chances for Cody Gakpo. Slot reflected on the positive impact of his bench players after the game, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live:
“And also today, I think we can only be very positive about the new players we’ve brought in. Florian Wirtz had a great second half. Hugo Ekitike, what he did was also very special.
“And Jeremie Frimpong, who only came in for ten minutes, was able to create a hundred percent chance for Cody Gakpo. So as long as the players keep working this hard, luck will come to us as well.”
Slot’s praise highlighted the value of his substitutes but also unintentionally drew attention to the shortcomings of the starting XI. Ekitike’s influence, combined with that of Wirtz and Frimpong, underscored the question of whether Liverpool could have approached the game differently from the outset.
Liverpool have the luxury to turn it around quickly with their attention now focusing on the Champions League fixture on Wednesday evening
For Arne Slot, the challenge is now clear: to ensure that the energy and impact demonstrated by substitutes is replicated by the starting XI, and that Liverpool can convert individual moments of quality into sustained, cohesive performances.
While the substitutes showed promise, Liverpool as a whole lacked the intensity, creativity, and clinical edge required to overcome Manchester United. Slot himself acknowledged the effort, but he will know that consistency and better starting XI decisions are essential if the Reds are to stop the slide and return to winning ways.
