Slot Offers No Excuses and Pledges to Plot Route From Slump

Arne Slot declared he needed to “examine my own performance” following the Reds endured a 6th defeat in seven English top-flight games on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would discover a way from the champions’ slump.

Nottingham Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, produced the biggest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their history as the Merseyside club fell to an 8th defeat in 11 fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more anonymous and Liverpool argued Murillo’s first goal should have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's disallowed effort against City before the national team pause. But Slot conceded the buck stopped with him and offered no alibis.

“Nobody wishes to listen to me now speaking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Forest,” stated the Reds' boss. “I should examine my own role first and my team, but it demonstrates you how a goal can change the momentum of a match. Earlier I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Afterwards we barely created anything.

“Naturally there is a path forward, especially with the talented players we have. Regardless if you win or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘In which areas can we do better, where can we make changes?’ but that is something else from doubting yourself.

“I want to emphasise I am responsible for the present losses. You are answerable when you are winning but also responsible when you are losing. I can never come up with sufficient excuses for us to have the results we have. That is not good enough and I am to blame for that.”

The team's display fell apart as Slot made several offensive substitutions when chasing the match. “It was the identical away at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I took the French defender out and put on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net immediately to make it 1-1. Then it was brave, currently it’s likely stupid.”

The Anfield side last lost back-to-back home league fixtures against Forest in 1963. The last time they suffered back-to-back league games by a 3-0 margin was in 1965.

Slot commented: “It was extremely poor. Playing at home, conceding 3-0 no matter which team you encounter is a terrible result. Surprising if you consider the opening 30 minutes of the game. I did not witness us producing so many chances in the initial 30 minutes perhaps the whole campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

“It did not happen against Manchester City, but in all other game we have been the dominant team and were capable to create chances. Lately it is almost constantly that we fail to convert our chances and the attempts we concede go in.”

Shelley English
Shelley English

A passionate traveler and writer with over a decade of experience documenting unique cultural encounters worldwide.