Liverpool's Manager Offers No Excuses and Pledges to Find Route Out of Slump

Arne Slot declared he needed to “examine my own performance” following the Reds endured a sixth loss in 7 Premier League matches on their own turf to Forest and insisted he would find a solution from the champions’ poor run.

Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, delivered the largest win at Liverpool's stadium in their history as Liverpool fell to an eighth loss in 11 fixtures in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was once more unnoticeable and the home side argued Murillo’s opener ought to have been ruled out for comparable grounds to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort against City before the international break. But Slot conceded the buck rested with him and made no excuses.

“No one wants to hear me now speaking about officiating calls if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to examine myself first and my squad, but it demonstrates you how a score can change the momentum of a game. Before I was just hoping for us to score a goal. Later we hardly generated any chances.

“Of course there is a path forward, particularly with the quality footballers we have. Regardless if you triumph or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘In which areas can we improve, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is different from doubting your abilities.

“I wish to emphasise I am responsible for the present defeats. You are answerable when you are winning but also responsible when you are defeated. I can never provide sufficient reasons for us to have the outcomes we have. That is far from acceptable and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s display unravelled as Slot introduced several attacking changes when chasing the game. “It was the identical on the road at Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I took Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] off and put on the Portuguese forward and he found the net immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was brave, currently it’s likely unwise.”

The Anfield side last lost back-to-back home Premier League games by Forest in 1963. The last time they suffered back-to-back top-flight matches by a 3-0 scoreline was in the mid-60s.

The manager said: “It was extremely poor. Competing at home, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you encounter is a very, very bad outcome. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the match. I did not witness us producing so much in the initial 30 minutes maybe the whole campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

“It wasn’t at City, but in all other game we have been the dominant team and were able to create chances. Lately it is nearly consistently that we miss our opportunities and the attempts we allow find the net.”