United stunned the home crowd by taking the lead just 63 seconds into the Premier League clash, with Bryan Mbeumo finishing clinically after a chaotic sequence of play. The controversy stemmed from an apparent head injury to Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister in the build-up, which referee Michael Oliver opted not to stop play for.

Mac Allister collided with teammate Virgil van Dijk and fell to the turf clutching the back of his head. However, with Oliver unaware or unconvinced of the severity, play continued and United capitalised, leaving Liverpool players incensed.

The Premier League Match Centre later clarified that as the contact came from a teammate and not an opponent, the incident was not eligible for a VAR review. The decision rested solely on Oliver’s discretion, which allowed the goal to stand.

Speaking post-match, Slot downplayed the incident and focused instead on his team’s failings.

"If you lose a game of football, especially after you’ve lost four, maybe you should have the emotion in the game," Slot told reporters. "But I should not talk about that in that moment of time. No excuses."

Liverpool had chances to get back into the match, including a penalty appeal for a potential handball in the first half, which Oliver also waved away. Despite a late push and a goal from Cody Gakpo, United held on to end their own poor run at Anfield.

Slot added "We had more than enough chances to score. If you’re at 1-1 and the game is there for you, you have to defend one set piece better than we did."

Virgil van Dijk, involved in the collision that left Mac Allister on the ground, acknowledged the chaotic nature of the build-up. "My elbow hit the player and he went down I went down too. It was difficult to score from that angle, but they did. We didn’t react well enough after that."

The defeat marks Liverpool’s fourth consecutive loss and raises fresh concerns about the team’s form under Slot. The Reds now sit outside the top four, with pressure mounting as the title race intensifies.

Van Dijk urged unity within the squad going forward. "When things get tough, it’s important we keep the mentality of being there for each other. It’s a long season."