Liverpool's Manager Provides Zero Justifications and Vows to Plot Way From Malaise

Arne Slot declared he had to “examine my own performance” following the Reds suffered a 6th loss in seven Premier League matches at home against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would discover a solution from the champions’ poor run.

Forest, fighting against the drop before kick off, produced the largest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their history as Liverpool fell to an eighth loss in eleven fixtures in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, Alexander Isak, was once more unnoticeable and Liverpool argued Murillo’s first goal ought to have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's chalked-off goal versus City before the international break. But Slot conceded the responsibility stopped with him and made no excuses.

“No one wants to listen to me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should look at myself initially and my team, but it demonstrates you how a goal can alter the momentum of a game. Earlier I was just waiting for us to net a strike. Afterwards we barely created anything.

“Of course there is a way out, particularly with the quality footballers we have. Regardless if you triumph or lose when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘Where can we improve, where can we make changes?’ but that is something else from questioning your abilities.

“I wish to emphasise I am responsible for the current defeats. You are answerable when you are winning but also liable when you are defeated. I can not provide enough excuses for us to have the results we have. That is not good enough and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s performance unravelled as the coach made several offensive changes when chasing the match. “It was the identical away at Forest last season,” he said. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored straight away to make it 1-1. At that time it was brave, now it’s probably stupid.”

Liverpool previously were defeated in two successive at Anfield league fixtures by Nottingham Forest in the sixties. The most recent occasion they lost consecutive league matches by a 3-0 margin was in the mid-60s.

The manager commented: “It was very bad. Playing on home soil, conceding 3-0 regardless of which opponent you face is a very, very bad result. Surprising if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the game. I did not witness us creating so much in the opening 30 minutes perhaps the entire season, and the initial occasion they arrived in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

“It wasn’t at City, but in all other game we have been the dominant team and were able to generate opportunities. Recently it is almost constantly that we miss our opportunities and the attempts we allow find the net.”

Lisa Davis
Lisa Davis

Wildlife biologist and conservationist with over a decade of experience studying sloths in Central America.