Slot Offers No Excuses and Pledges to Find Way From Slump
Arne Slot declared he had to “look at myself” following Liverpool endured a sixth loss in seven Premier League games at home against Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a way from the champions’ poor run.
Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, delivered the biggest victory at Anfield in their club records as the Merseyside club fell to an eighth loss in 11 matches in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was once more unnoticeable and the home side argued the defender's opener should have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort versus City before the international break. But Slot conceded the responsibility stopped with him and offered no alibis.
“Nobody wants to listen to me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should examine myself initially and my team, but it demonstrates you how a goal can alter the flow of a match. Before I was just hoping for us to net a goal. Afterwards we hardly generated anything.
“Of course there is a path forward, especially with the quality players we have. No matter if you triumph or lose when you look back you are always thinking: ‘In which areas can we improve, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is different from questioning your abilities.
“I wish to emphasise I am responsible for the current defeats. You are answerable when you are victorious but also responsible when you are defeated. I can never come up with sufficient reasons for us to have the outcomes we have. That is not good enough and I am to blame for that.”
The team's performance fell apart as Slot made several attacking changes when chasing the game. “It was the identical on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he remarked. “I substituted the French defender out and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was brave, now it’s probably unwise.”
Liverpool last lost two successive home league fixtures by Nottingham Forest in 1963. The last time they suffered back-to-back league games by a 3-0 scoreline was in 1965.
Slot commented: “It was extremely poor. Competing at home, losing 3-0 regardless of which opponent you encounter is a terrible result. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the match. I did not witness us producing so many chances in the opening half-hour perhaps the whole campaign, and the first time they arrived in our box they scored.
“It did not happen at City, but in every other game we have been the dominant team and were capable to create opportunities. Lately it is almost constantly that we miss our opportunities and the attempts we allow find the net.”