Liverpool's Manager Offers No Excuses and Vows to Find Way From Slump
Arne Slot stated he had to “examine my own performance” after the Reds endured a sixth defeat in seven Premier League games at home to Nottingham Forest and insisted he would find a solution out of the champions’ poor run.
Nottingham Forest, fighting against the drop before kick off, produced the biggest win at Anfield in their history as Liverpool fell to an 8th defeat in 11 fixtures in every tournament. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more unnoticeable and the home side argued the defender's first goal ought to have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's disallowed effort versus City prior to the international break. But Slot admitted the buck rested with him and made no excuses.
“Nobody wants to hear me now talking about officiating calls if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should examine myself initially and my squad, but it does show you how a score can change the momentum of a game. Earlier I was just hoping for us to score a strike. Later we hardly created any chances.
“Of course there is a way out, especially with the quality players we have. No matter if you win or lose when you look back you are always thinking: ‘Where can we do better, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is something else from doubting your abilities.
“I want to stress I am accountable for the current losses. You are answerable when you are victorious but also liable when you are defeated. I can not provide enough reasons for us to have the outcomes we have. That is not good enough and I am responsible for that.”
The team's performance fell apart as the coach introduced several offensive substitutions when pursuing the game. “It was the identical on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I took the French defender off and put on the Portuguese forward and he scored straight away to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was courageous, currently it’s likely unwise.”
Liverpool last lost back-to-back at Anfield league games by Nottingham Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered consecutive league matches by a three-goal margin was in 1965.
Slot commented: “It was extremely poor. Competing at home, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you face is a very, very bad result. Surprising if you consider the first half-hour of the game. I haven’t seen us creating so many chances in the opening 30 minutes perhaps the entire campaign, and the first time they entered in our box they scored.
“It did not happen at City, but in all other game we have been the dominant team and were capable to create opportunities. Lately it is almost constantly that we fail to convert our opportunities and the ones we concede go in.”