Liverpool's Manager Provides Zero Justifications and Vows to Find Route Out of Slump
Arne Slot stated he needed to “look at myself” after Liverpool suffered a sixth defeat in 7 English top-flight matches on their own turf to Forest and affirmed he would find a way out of the champions’ poor run.
Nottingham Forest, fighting against the drop before kick off, produced the largest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their history as Liverpool slipped to an 8th loss in 11 matches in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, Alexander Isak, was again unnoticeable and Liverpool contended the defender's first goal ought to have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's chalked-off goal against Manchester City prior to the national team pause. But Slot admitted the responsibility stopped with him and offered no alibis.
“No one wishes to hear me now talking about officiating calls if you lose 3-0 in your own stadium to Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I should examine myself first and my team, but it does show you how a score can alter the momentum of a match. Before I was just hoping for us to net a goal. Afterwards we barely created anything.
“Of course there is a way out, especially with the talented players we have. No matter if you win or are beaten when you look back you are always considering: ‘In which areas can we do better, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is different from questioning your abilities.
“I want to emphasise I am accountable for the present losses. You are answerable when you are winning but also responsible when you are losing. I can not provide enough excuses for us to have the results we have. That is not acceptable and I am responsible for that.”
Liverpool’s display unravelled as Slot introduced several attacking substitutions when pursuing the match. “It was the same away at Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I took Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and put on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net immediately to equalize at 1-1. Then it was courageous, now it’s probably unwise.”
Liverpool last lost back-to-back home Premier League fixtures by Nottingham Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered consecutive top-flight matches by a three-goal margin was in the mid-60s.
Slot said: “It was extremely poor. Playing at home, losing 3-0 regardless of which team you encounter is a very, very bad outcome. Unexpected if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the game. I haven’t seen us producing so much in the initial 30 minutes maybe the whole campaign, and the first time they arrived in our penalty area they scored.
“It did not happen against Manchester City, but in all other game we have been the controlling team and were able to create chances. Recently it is almost constantly that we fail to convert our chances and the ones we allow go in.”