Slot Provides No Excuses and Pledges to Plot Route From Slump

Arne Slot stated he needed to “examine my own performance” after the Reds suffered a 6th defeat in seven Premier League games at home to Forest and affirmed he would find a solution out of the champions’ poor run.

Nottingham Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, produced the largest win at Anfield in their history as Liverpool slipped to an eighth defeat in eleven fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more anonymous and Liverpool argued the defender's opener ought to have been ruled out for similar reasons to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort against Manchester City prior to the international break. But Slot conceded the buck 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 Forest,” stated the Liverpool head coach. “I should examine my own role first and my team, but it does show you how a goal can change the flow of a game. Earlier I was just waiting for us to score a goal. Later we barely generated any chances.

“Naturally there is a way out, especially with the talented footballers we have. Regardless if you triumph or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘Where can we improve, where can we adjust?’ but that is something else from questioning yourself.

“I wish to stress I am responsible for the present defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are losing. I can never provide sufficient reasons for us to have the outcomes we have. That is far from acceptable and I am to blame for that.”

Liverpool’s display fell apart as the coach introduced several attacking substitutions when pursuing the game. “It was the identical away at Nottingham Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] off and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored immediately to make it 1-1. At that time it was brave, currently it’s likely stupid.”

The Anfield side last lost two successive at Anfield league fixtures against Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered back-to-back top-flight matches by a three-goal scoreline was in the mid-60s.

The manager commented: “It was very bad. Competing on home soil, losing 3-0 no matter which team you encounter is a very, very bad outcome. Unexpected if you consider the opening 30 minutes of the game. I did not witness us producing so many chances in the opening 30 minutes perhaps the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our box they scored.

“It did not happen at City, but in all other fixture we have been the dominant side and were able to create opportunities. Lately it is nearly constantly that we fail to convert our chances and the attempts we allow go in.”

Michael Price
Michael Price

A passionate esports journalist and streamer with a focus on competitive gaming trends and community engagement.