Slot Provides No Excuses and Pledges to Find Route From Malaise

Liverpool's head coach stated he had to “examine my own performance” following Liverpool suffered a sixth loss in seven English top-flight games on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would find a way out of the title holders' slump.

Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, produced the biggest victory at Anfield in their history as the Merseyside club slipped to an eighth loss in 11 fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was again anonymous and the home side contended Murillo’s opener should have been disallowed for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort versus Manchester City before the international break. But Slot conceded the responsibility stopped with him and made no excuses.

“No one wishes to listen to me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 at home to Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I should look at my own role initially and my team, but it does show you how a score can alter the momentum of a match. Before I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Afterwards we barely created any chances.

“Naturally there is a way out, particularly with the quality players we have. No matter if you triumph or are beaten when you look back you are always thinking: ‘Where can we do better, where can we make changes?’ but that is different from questioning your abilities.

“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 enough reasons for us to have the results we have. That is not good enough and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s display fell apart as Slot made several attacking changes when chasing the match. “It was the same away at Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] off and put on the Portuguese forward and he scored straight away to equalize at 1-1. Then it was brave, currently it’s probably unwise.”

Liverpool last lost two successive at Anfield league games by Forest in the sixties. The last time they suffered back-to-back league matches by a 3-0 scoreline was in the mid-60s.

The manager said: “It was very bad. Playing on home soil, conceding 3-0 regardless of which team you face is a terrible result. Surprising if you consider the opening 30 minutes of the match. I did not witness us creating so much in the opening half-hour perhaps the whole season, and the initial occasion they entered in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

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