A second-half fightback could not stop Liverpool losing to Manchester United.

Jurgen Klopp’s side fell behind after less than 15 minutes at Old Trafford when Marcus Rashford was allowed to turn Trent Alexander-Arnold before sweeping home.

Rashford doubled his and the Red Devils’ tally just 10 minutes later when Virgil van Dijk’s interception on Juan Mata broke to the striker inside the penalty area.

The Reds were able to pull one back after the break when Eric Bailly turned the ball into his own net from Sadio Mane’s cross but they could not add to it.

Here were the key talking points from Old Trafford:

TAA’s inexperience finally shows

 

It is easy to forget that, for all his confidence, Trent Alexander-Arnold is still only 19 years old and is yet to make 40 first-team appearances for Liverpool.

Both marauding and defensively sound, the hope was that he would follow in the footsteps of the last player to sail through an Old Trafford baptism of fire.

It was just not meant to be.

Alexander-Arnold may be Anfield’s most promising right-back since Rob Jones but that is where the similarities began and ended against United.

Turned far too easily by Marcus Rashford for the hosts’ opener and turning his to deflect the Red Devils striker’s second goal, it was a truly nightmarish showing.

Until this outing, Trent Alexander-Arnold carried the swagger of a Liverpool full-back but the reality of his inexperience was hammered home this afternoon.

Salah needs a Plan B

 

Stopping Mohamed Salah had given many an opposing defence sleepless nights.

Ashley Young’s game plan is likely to become the blueprint in helping nullify the in-form Egyptian after his surprisingly muted showing at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.

Wherever opportunity knocked for Salah, United’s full-back was on hand to snuff out the danger.

That Liverpool had to rely on Eric Bailly’s misfortune to break through their hosts’ defence highlighted how much Jose Mourinho’s tactics stifled their leading scorer.

Salah may be on course to become one of Anfield’s most prolific marksmen but he will need to diversify the current repertoire to avoid more days at the office like this.

Lovren needs to become a ball-winner

 

Perennially taking one step forward and two steps back has epitomised Dejan Lovren’s Liverpool career. Some things will clearly never change.

Once again, the Croatia international was culpable as Jurgen Klopp’s side found themselves two goals behind after less than half an hour at Old Trafford.

On both occasions, Lovren was comfortably beaten in aerial duels by Romelu Lukaku; appearing disinterested in even putting up a challenge for either.

If the much-maligned defender had been stronger in vying for those first balls, Klopp’s decision to pick him ahead of Joel Matip would have appeared a logical one.

Lovren is clearly capable of rising to head the ball when it counts; the small matter of a Europa League winner against Borussia Dortmund springs to mind.

It is time he again showed those abilities when doing his basic duty in defence.

Reds still unable to turn the corner

 

A familiar refrain around Anfield is that Liverpool ‘never score from corners’.

That time-honoured lament has rang hollow on occasion but the stats bear it out, particularly after the Reds’ fifth loss in their previous eight games against United.

In total, they had 12 corners against Mourinho’s side but still failed to find the target. During six minutes of added time, it became a tactic of sheer desperation.

Floating balls into the box already carries a limited probability rate but even less so when chasing the game and a team notorious for defensive stubbornness.

In time, Klopp may realise the merits of taking the short option rather than the hit-and-hope. Until then, the Liverpool will continually fail to turn at least one corner.