Liverpool's Manager Offers No Excuses and Vows to Find Way Out of Slump
Arne Slot stated he had to “examine my own performance” after the Reds suffered a sixth defeat in 7 Premier League matches on their own turf against Forest and affirmed he would find a solution out of the title holders' slump.
Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, produced the biggest victory at Anfield in their club records as Liverpool fell to an eighth loss in 11 fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more anonymous and the home side contended the defender's first goal ought to have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's disallowed effort versus Manchester City before the national team pause. But Slot conceded the buck rested with him and offered no alibis.
“Nobody wishes to hear me now talking about officiating calls if you lose 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should examine my own role 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 net a goal. Afterwards we hardly generated any chances.
“Naturally there is a path forward, particularly with the quality footballers we have. No matter if you win or lose when you look back you are always considering: ‘Where can we do better, where can we make changes?’ but that is something else from doubting your abilities.
“I want to stress I am accountable for the present defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are defeated. I can never come up with enough excuses 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 offensive changes when chasing the match. “It was the same away at Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I took the French defender out and put on [Diogo] Jota and he scored immediately to equalize at 1-1. Then it was brave, now it’s likely unwise.”
The Anfield side last lost back-to-back at Anfield league fixtures by Nottingham Forest in the sixties. The last time they suffered back-to-back league games by a 3-0 margin was in 1965.
Slot commented: “It was extremely poor. Competing on home soil, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you encounter is a terrible outcome. Surprising if you consider the first half-hour of the game. I did not witness us producing so many chances in the initial half-hour perhaps the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they arrived in our penalty area they found the back of the net.
“It wasn’t at City, but in every other game we have been the controlling side and were capable to create chances. Recently it is nearly consistently that we miss our chances and the ones we concede find the net.”