Slot Provides Zero Justifications and Pledges to Find Way Out of Slump

Arne Slot stated he had to “examine my own performance” following Liverpool endured a sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches at home against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would find a solution out of the champions’ slump.

Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, delivered the largest win at Anfield in their history as the Merseyside club fell to an 8th defeat in eleven matches in every tournament. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more unnoticeable and the home side argued Murillo’s first goal ought to have been disallowed for comparable grounds to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort versus Manchester City before the national team pause. But the manager conceded the responsibility rested with him and offered no alibis.

“No one wishes to listen to me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 at home to Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should look at myself initially and my squad, but it does show you how a goal can change the momentum of a game. Earlier I was just waiting for us to net a strike. Later we barely generated anything.

“Naturally there is a way out, particularly with the quality footballers we have. No matter if you win or lose when you reflect you are always considering: ‘Where can we do better, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is something else from doubting yourself.

“I want to emphasise I am accountable for the current defeats. You are answerable when you are victorious but also responsible when you are defeated. I can not come up with sufficient excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is far from acceptable and I am to blame for that.”

The team's display fell apart as the coach made several offensive substitutions when chasing the game. “It was the identical on the road at Forest last season,” he remarked. “I substituted the French defender off and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he scored immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was brave, currently it’s likely unwise.”

The Anfield side previously were defeated in two successive at Anfield Premier League games against Forest in 1963. The last time they suffered back-to-back top-flight matches by a three-goal margin was in 1965.

Slot said: “It was very bad. Playing at home, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you face is a very, very bad outcome. Unexpected if you look at the first half-hour of the game. I did not witness us producing so many chances in the initial half-hour perhaps the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our penalty area they scored.

“It wasn’t at City, but in every other game we have been the controlling team and were able to generate opportunities. Lately it is almost consistently that we miss our opportunities and the attempts we concede find the net.”

Richard Gill
Richard Gill

Elara Vance is a space technology journalist with a passion for exploring the frontiers of science and innovation.