Slot Provides No Excuses and Pledges to Plot Route Out of Malaise

Arne Slot declared he had to “look at myself” following Liverpool suffered a 6th defeat in seven English top-flight matches on their own turf against Forest and affirmed he would find a solution out of the title holders' slump.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, delivered the biggest win at Anfield in their history as the Merseyside club slipped to an eighth defeat in 11 fixtures in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was again unnoticeable and Liverpool argued Murillo’s first goal ought to have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort against Manchester City prior to the national team pause. But Slot conceded the responsibility stopped with him and made no excuses.

“No one wants to listen to me now speaking about officiating calls if you are defeated 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” stated the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to look at my own role first and my team, but it does show you how a goal can alter the momentum of a match. Earlier I was just hoping for us to net a strike. Later we hardly created anything.

“Naturally there is a way out, particularly with the talented players we have. Regardless if you win or are beaten when you look back you are always considering: ‘In which areas can we improve, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is something else from questioning your abilities.

“I want to emphasise I am responsible for the present defeats. You are answerable when you are winning but also liable when you are defeated. I can not provide enough reasons for us to have the results we have. That is far from good enough and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s performance unravelled as the coach introduced several offensive substitutions when pursuing the match. “It was the same on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he remarked. “I took the French defender off and put on the Portuguese forward and he found the net immediately to make it 1-1. At that time it was brave, now it’s likely stupid.”

Liverpool last lost two successive at Anfield league fixtures by Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they lost back-to-back top-flight games by a 3-0 scoreline was in 1965.

The manager commented: “It was very bad. Playing at home, conceding 3-0 no matter which team you encounter is a very, very bad result. Unexpected if you look at the first half-hour of the game. I did not witness us producing so much in the opening 30 minutes maybe the whole season, and the initial occasion they entered 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 side and were capable to create opportunities. Lately it is almost constantly that we miss our chances and the ones we concede go in.”

Lisa Galloway
Lisa Galloway

A passionate storyteller and digital content creator with a background in creative writing and journalism.