Slot Provides Zero Justifications and Pledges to Plot Way From Slump

Arne Slot declared he needed to “look at myself” after Liverpool endured a sixth defeat in seven English top-flight games at home against Forest and affirmed he would discover a way from the champions’ slump.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, delivered the largest win at Anfield in their history as Liverpool slipped to an eighth defeat in eleven matches in every tournament. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was once more anonymous and the home side contended the defender's opener should have been disallowed for similar reasons to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort versus City prior to the international break. But Slot conceded the responsibility stopped with him and offered no alibis.

“Nobody wants to hear me now speaking about refereeing decisions if you lose 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I ought to look at my own role first and my squad, but it demonstrates you how a goal can alter the momentum of a game. Before I was just hoping for us to score a strike. Later we barely generated anything.

“Of course there is a way out, particularly with the quality players we have. Regardless if you triumph 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 questioning your abilities.

“I want to emphasise I am accountable for the present losses. You are responsible when you are victorious but also liable when you are defeated. I can not come up with sufficient reasons for us to have the results we have. That is not good enough and I am responsible for that.”

The team's display fell apart as Slot made several attacking substitutions when chasing the match. “It was the same on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I took Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] off and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net straight away to make it 1-1. At that time it was brave, now it’s probably unwise.”

Liverpool last lost two successive at Anfield Premier League games against Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they lost consecutive league matches by a three-goal margin was in the mid-60s.

Slot said: “It was very bad. Competing on home soil, conceding 3-0 no matter which opponent you face is a very, very bad result. Surprising if you consider the first half-hour of the match. I haven’t seen us creating so much in the initial half-hour perhaps the entire campaign, and the first time they arrived in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in all other fixture we have been the controlling side and were able to create opportunities. Lately it is nearly constantly that we miss our opportunities and the attempts we allow find the net.”

Todd Thompson
Todd Thompson

Elara is a seasoned product reviewer with a passion for testing and comparing the latest gadgets and household items.