Liverpool's Manager Offers Zero Justifications and Vows to Plot Route Out of Malaise

Arne Slot declared he needed to “examine my own performance” after the Reds endured a sixth defeat in 7 Premier League matches on their own turf to Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a way from the champions’ poor run.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, delivered the biggest win at Anfield in their history as Liverpool fell to an 8th loss in eleven matches in every tournament. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more unnoticeable and the home side contended Murillo’s opener should have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort against City prior to the national team pause. But the manager conceded the responsibility rested with him and offered no alibis.

“No one wants to hear me now talking about officiating calls if you lose 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to examine myself first and my team, but it demonstrates you how a score can change the momentum of a game. Before I was just hoping for us to net a goal. Afterwards we barely created any chances.

“Of course there is a path forward, especially with the quality footballers we have. No matter if you triumph or lose when you look back you are always thinking: ‘In which areas can we improve, where can we make changes?’ but that is different from questioning yourself.

“I wish to stress I am accountable for the present losses. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are losing. I can never come up with enough excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is far from acceptable and I am to blame for that.”

The team's performance unravelled as the coach made multiple attacking changes when pursuing the match. “It was the same away at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I took Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was courageous, currently it’s likely unwise.”

Liverpool last lost back-to-back home Premier League fixtures against Nottingham Forest in 1963. The last time they suffered consecutive top-flight games by a three-goal margin was in the mid-60s.

Slot commented: “It was very bad. Playing on home soil, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you face is a very, very bad outcome. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the match. I haven’t seen us creating so many chances in the initial half-hour perhaps the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our box they found the back of the net.

“It did not happen against Manchester City, but in all other fixture we have been the controlling side and were capable to generate opportunities. Recently it is nearly constantly that we fail to convert our opportunities and the attempts we allow go in.”

Terri Howell
Terri Howell

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