Slot Provides No Excuses and Vows to Plot Route From Malaise

Arne Slot stated he needed to “look at myself” following Liverpool endured a sixth loss in 7 Premier League matches on their own turf against Forest and affirmed he would discover a solution out of the champions’ poor run.

Nottingham Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, delivered the biggest victory at Anfield in their club records as the Merseyside club fell to an eighth loss in eleven matches in all competitions. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was once more unnoticeable and the home side contended Murillo’s first goal should have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort against City prior to the international break. But the manager conceded the buck rested with him and made no excuses.

“No one wants to hear me now talking about refereeing decisions if you lose 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to look at my own role first and my squad, but it does show you how a goal can alter the flow of a game. Before I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Later we barely generated any chances.

“Of course there is a way out, particularly with the talented footballers we have. No matter if you triumph or lose when you reflect you are always considering: ‘Where can we improve, where can we adjust?’ but that is something else from doubting your abilities.

“I wish to emphasise I am responsible for the current defeats. You are answerable when you are victorious but also responsible when you are defeated. I can not come up with enough excuses for us to have the results we have. That is not acceptable and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s display fell apart as the coach introduced multiple attacking substitutions when chasing the match. “It was the identical away at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he scored straight away to make it 1-1. Then it was courageous, now it’s likely stupid.”

Liverpool last lost two successive at Anfield league fixtures against Nottingham Forest in 1963. The last time they lost consecutive league games by a 3-0 scoreline was in the mid-60s.

Slot commented: “It was extremely poor. Competing at home, losing 3-0 regardless of which opponent you encounter is a terrible result. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the game. I haven’t seen us creating so many chances in the initial half-hour maybe the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they arrived in our box they scored.

“It did not happen at City, but in every other game we have been the dominant side and were capable to create chances. Lately it is nearly consistently that we fail to convert our opportunities and the ones we allow go in.”