Liverpool's Manager Provides Zero Justifications and Vows to Find Route From Slump

Arne Slot stated he needed to “look at myself” following Liverpool suffered a sixth defeat in seven Premier League games on their own turf against Forest and affirmed he would find a solution from the title holders' slump.

Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, produced the biggest victory at Anfield in their club records as the Merseyside club fell to an 8th defeat in eleven fixtures in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was once more unnoticeable and Liverpool argued the defender's opener ought to have been disallowed for similar reasons to Virgil van Dijk’s chalked-off goal versus Manchester City before the national team pause. But the manager conceded the responsibility rested 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,” stated the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to look at myself initially and my team, but it does show you how a goal can change the momentum of a game. Earlier I was just hoping for us to score a strike. Afterwards we barely generated anything.

“Of course there is a path forward, especially with the talented footballers we have. Regardless if you triumph or lose when you look back you are always considering: ‘Where can we improve, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is something else from doubting your abilities.

“I wish to emphasise I am responsible for the present defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are defeated. I can never provide enough reasons for us to have the results we have. That is far from good enough and I am to blame for that.”

The team's performance unravelled as the coach introduced multiple offensive changes when chasing the game. “It was the same away at Forest the previous campaign,” he said. “I substituted the French defender out and put on [Diogo] Jota and he scored immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was courageous, currently it’s likely unwise.”

The Anfield side previously were defeated in two successive at Anfield league games by Nottingham Forest in 1963. The last time they lost consecutive top-flight games by a three-goal scoreline was in the mid-60s.

Slot said: “It was very bad. Competing on home soil, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you encounter is a very, very bad outcome. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the match. I did not witness us producing so much in the initial 30 minutes maybe the entire season, and the first time they arrived in our penalty area they scored.

“It did not happen against Manchester City, but in every other fixture we have been the controlling team and were able to generate chances. Lately it is almost consistently that we miss our opportunities and the ones we allow find the net.”

Tommy Aguirre
Tommy Aguirre

Lena Weber is a seasoned journalist and blogger based in Berlin, focusing on German politics and social trends with a passion for storytelling.