Slot Offers Zero Justifications and Pledges to Plot Route From Malaise

Arne Slot stated he needed to “examine my own performance” after Liverpool endured a sixth defeat in seven English top-flight matches on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a solution out of the title holders' slump.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, produced the largest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as the Merseyside club slipped to an eighth loss in 11 fixtures in every tournament. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was again unnoticeable and Liverpool argued the defender's first goal ought to have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's chalked-off goal against City prior to the national team pause. But Slot admitted the buck stopped with him and made no excuses.

“No one wishes to listen to me now talking about refereeing decisions if you lose 3-0 at home to Forest,” stated the Reds' boss. “I should examine myself first and my team, but it does show you how a score can alter the momentum of a game. Before I was just waiting for us to net a strike. Later we barely generated any chances.

“Naturally there is a path forward, particularly with the talented footballers we have. Regardless if you win or lose when you look back you are always considering: ‘Where can we do better, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is different from doubting yourself.

“I want to stress I am responsible for the current losses. You are answerable when you are winning but also liable when you are defeated. I can not come up with sufficient excuses for us to have the results we have. That is far from acceptable and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s performance fell apart as Slot made multiple attacking changes when pursuing the game. “It was the identical on the road at Forest the previous campaign,” he said. “I substituted the French defender off and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored immediately to make it 1-1. Then it was brave, now it’s probably unwise.”

The Anfield side last lost back-to-back home Premier League games against Nottingham Forest in the sixties. The most recent occasion they suffered back-to-back league matches by a 3-0 margin was in 1965.

Slot said: “It was extremely poor. Competing at home, losing 3-0 regardless of which opponent you encounter is a very, very bad result. Unexpected if you consider the first half-hour of the game. I did not witness us producing so much in the opening half-hour perhaps the whole campaign, and the first time they entered in our penalty area they scored.

“It did not happen at City, but in every other game we have been the dominant team and were able to generate chances. Recently it is almost consistently that we fail to convert our opportunities and the attempts we allow find the net.”