Liverpool's Manager Offers Zero Justifications and Vows to Find Route From Malaise

Liverpool's head coach declared he had to “examine my own performance” after Liverpool endured a 6th defeat in seven English top-flight games on their own turf to Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would discover a way from the title holders' poor run.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, produced the biggest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their history as the Merseyside club slipped to an 8th defeat in eleven fixtures in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was again unnoticeable and the home side argued Murillo’s opener ought to have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's disallowed effort versus City prior to the national team pause. But the manager conceded the buck rested with him and offered no alibis.

“Nobody wishes 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 should examine my own role initially and my squad, but it does show you how a goal can change the momentum of a match. Earlier I was just hoping for us to net a goal. Afterwards we barely created any chances.

“Naturally there is a path forward, especially with the quality footballers we have. No matter if you triumph or are beaten when you look back you are always considering: ‘In which areas can we do better, where can we make changes?’ but that is something else from doubting your abilities.

“I want to emphasise I am responsible for the present defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also liable when you are defeated. I can never come up with enough excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is far from good enough and I am to blame for that.”

Liverpool’s display fell apart as Slot introduced multiple attacking changes when chasing the game. “It was the same on the road at Forest last season,” he remarked. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and put on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was brave, now it’s probably stupid.”

The Anfield side last lost two successive at Anfield league games by Forest in the sixties. The last time they suffered back-to-back league matches by a three-goal scoreline was in the mid-60s.

Slot commented: “It was very bad. Playing on home soil, losing 3-0 regardless of which opponent you encounter is a very, very bad outcome. Unexpected if you consider the opening 30 minutes of the game. I haven’t seen us creating so many chances in the opening half-hour perhaps the whole season, and the initial occasion they arrived in our penalty area they scored.

“It wasn’t at City, but in all other game we have been the dominant side and were able to create chances. Recently it is almost consistently that we miss our chances and the ones we concede go in.”