Slot Offers Zero Justifications and Vows to Plot Way Out of Slump

Liverpool's head coach declared he had to “examine my own performance” after Liverpool endured a sixth loss in 7 English top-flight matches on their own turf against Forest and affirmed he would discover a way out of the title holders' slump.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, delivered the biggest win at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as Liverpool slipped to an 8th loss in eleven fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more anonymous and Liverpool argued the defender's opener ought to have been ruled out for comparable grounds to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort versus Manchester City prior to the international break. But Slot admitted the responsibility rested with him and offered no alibis.

“No one wants to hear me now talking about officiating calls if you lose 3-0 at home to Forest,” stated the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to look at my own role first and my team, but it demonstrates you how a score can alter the flow of a match. Before I was just hoping for us to score a goal. Afterwards we hardly created anything.

“Of course there is a way out, especially with the talented players we have. No matter if you win or lose when you reflect you are always considering: ‘In which areas can we do better, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is different from questioning yourself.

“I want to emphasise I am accountable for the present defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are losing. I can never provide sufficient excuses for us to have the outcomes 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 match. “It was the same on the road at Forest last season,” he remarked. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] off and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was brave, currently it’s probably unwise.”

The Anfield side last lost two successive home league games by Nottingham Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered back-to-back league games by a 3-0 margin was in 1965.

Slot commented: “It was extremely poor. Competing at home, conceding 3-0 regardless of which opponent you encounter is a terrible result. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the game. I haven’t seen us creating so many chances in the initial 30 minutes perhaps the whole campaign, and the first time they arrived in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in all other game we have been the controlling side and were able to generate opportunities. Lately it is almost consistently that we miss our opportunities and the attempts we allow go in.”