Slot Offers No Excuses and Pledges to Plot Route From Slump

Arne Slot stated he had to “look at myself” following Liverpool suffered a sixth loss in 7 Premier League 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 biggest win at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as Liverpool fell to an 8th loss in 11 matches in every tournament. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was once more anonymous and the home side argued the defender's first goal should have been disallowed for similar reasons to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort versus City before the national team pause. But the manager admitted the buck rested with him and offered no alibis.

“No one wishes to listen to me now speaking about refereeing decisions if you lose 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” stated the Reds' boss. “I should look at myself initially and my squad, but it does show you how a score can change the momentum of a match. Earlier I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Later we hardly created anything.

“Naturally there is a path forward, particularly with the quality players we have. Regardless if you win or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘Where can we improve, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is different from doubting yourself.

“I wish to stress I am accountable for the present defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are losing. I can not provide sufficient excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is far from good enough and I am to blame for that.”

Liverpool’s performance unravelled as the coach made several attacking substitutions when pursuing the match. “It was the same away at Forest last season,” he said. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net immediately to make it 1-1. Then it was brave, now it’s likely unwise.”

The Anfield side previously were defeated in two successive home league fixtures by Nottingham Forest in 1963. The last time they lost consecutive top-flight games by a three-goal scoreline was in the mid-60s.

The manager said: “It was extremely poor. Playing on home soil, conceding 3-0 no matter which opponent you encounter is a terrible result. Surprising if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the match. I did not witness us producing so much in the initial half-hour perhaps the entire campaign, and the first time they arrived in our box they found the back of the net.

“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in every other game we have been the dominant team and were capable to create chances. Lately it is nearly constantly that we fail to convert our chances and the attempts we allow go in.”

Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez

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