Liverpool's Manager Provides No Excuses and Vows to Plot Way From Slump

Liverpool's head coach stated he had to “examine my own performance” after the Reds suffered a 6th defeat in seven Premier League games on their own turf to Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a way from the champions’ slump.

Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, produced the biggest victory at Anfield in their history as the Merseyside club slipped to an 8th loss in 11 matches in every tournament. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was again anonymous and the home side contended Murillo’s first goal ought to have been disallowed for similar reasons to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort versus City prior to the national team pause. But Slot admitted the responsibility stopped with him and made no excuses.

“No one wishes to hear me now speaking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I ought to look at my own role initially and my team, but it does show you how a goal can alter the momentum of a match. Before I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Later we barely generated anything.

“Naturally there is a path forward, particularly with the quality footballers we have. Regardless if you win or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘In which areas can we improve, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is different from doubting your abilities.

“I wish to stress I am responsible for the current losses. You are responsible when you are winning but also liable when you are losing. I can never come up with enough reasons for us to have the results we have. That is far from acceptable and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s display fell apart as the coach made multiple attacking changes when pursuing the game. “It was the same on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I took the French defender out and put on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net 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 Premier League games against Nottingham Forest in the sixties. The last time they suffered consecutive league matches by a three-goal scoreline was in the mid-60s.

The manager commented: “It was extremely poor. Playing on home soil, losing 3-0 regardless of which team you face is a very, very bad result. Unexpected if you consider the opening 30 minutes of the match. I did not witness us creating so many chances in the opening half-hour maybe the entire season, and the first time they entered in our box they scored.

“It did not happen at City, but in every other fixture we have been the controlling team and were capable to create chances. Lately it is nearly constantly that we fail to convert our opportunities and the attempts we concede go in.”

Kelly Lowe
Kelly Lowe

Elena is a sports journalist with over a decade of experience covering major leagues and international tournaments.