Liverpool's Manager Provides Zero Justifications and Vows to Find Route Out of Malaise
Arne Slot declared he had to “look at myself” after Liverpool suffered a sixth loss in seven Premier League matches on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would discover a solution out of the title holders' slump.
Nottingham Forest, fighting against the drop before kick off, delivered the biggest win at Liverpool's stadium in their history as the Merseyside club slipped to an 8th defeat in 11 fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more anonymous and Liverpool contended Murillo’s opener should have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort against Manchester City before the international break. But the manager admitted the responsibility stopped with him and made no excuses.
“No one wants to hear me now talking about refereeing decisions if you lose 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” stated the Liverpool head coach. “I should look at my own role initially and my squad, but it demonstrates you how a goal can alter the momentum of a match. Before I was just waiting for us to score a goal. Later we barely created anything.
“Naturally there is a way out, particularly with the quality players we have. No matter if you triumph or lose when you look back you are always considering: ‘In which areas can we do better, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is something else from doubting yourself.
“I wish to stress I am responsible for the present defeats. You are answerable when you are winning but also liable when you are losing. I can not provide sufficient reasons for us to have the results we have. That is not acceptable and I am to blame for that.”
Liverpool’s display fell apart as the coach made several attacking changes when pursuing the game. “It was the same on the road at Forest last season,” he remarked. “I substituted the French defender out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he scored straight away to make it 1-1. At that time it was courageous, currently it’s probably unwise.”
The Anfield side last lost two successive at Anfield Premier League games by Nottingham Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they lost back-to-back league matches by a 3-0 margin was in the mid-60s.
The manager commented: “It was extremely poor. Competing at home, losing 3-0 regardless of which team you encounter is a very, very bad outcome. Surprising if you consider the opening 30 minutes of the match. I haven’t seen us producing so many chances in the opening half-hour maybe the entire season, and the first time they entered in our penalty area they scored.
“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in every other game we have been the dominant team and were capable to generate opportunities. Lately it is almost consistently that we miss our chances and the ones we allow go in.”