Slot Provides No Excuses and Vows to Find Way Out of Slump
Arne Slot stated he had to “look at myself” following the Reds endured a sixth defeat in 7 English top-flight matches on their own turf to Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a solution from the champions’ slump.
Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, delivered the largest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as the Merseyside club slipped to an 8th defeat in eleven fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more unnoticeable and Liverpool argued the defender's first goal ought to have been disallowed for comparable grounds to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort against Manchester City before the international break. But the manager admitted the buck rested with him and made no excuses.
“Nobody wants to hear me now talking about officiating calls if you lose 3-0 at home to Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to look at myself initially and my team, but it does show you how a goal can change the momentum of a game. Earlier I was just waiting for us to net a strike. Afterwards we barely created anything.
“Of course there is a path forward, particularly with the quality footballers we have. No matter if you triumph or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘Where can we improve, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is different from doubting your abilities.
“I wish to stress I am accountable for the present defeats. You are answerable when you are winning but also responsible when you are losing. I can never provide sufficient excuses for us to have the results we have. That is not acceptable and I am responsible for that.”
Liverpool’s display unravelled as Slot introduced several offensive changes when pursuing the match. “It was the identical on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he remarked. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] off and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored straight away to equalize at 1-1. Then it was brave, now it’s likely stupid.”
Liverpool last lost two successive at Anfield league games against Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered back-to-back top-flight matches by a three-goal scoreline was in 1965.
Slot said: “It was very bad. Playing at home, losing 3-0 no matter which team you face is a terrible result. Unexpected if you look at the first half-hour of the match. I did not witness us producing so many chances in the initial 30 minutes perhaps the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they arrived in our box they found the back of the net.
“It wasn’t at City, but in all other fixture we have been the controlling side and were capable to generate opportunities. Lately it is almost constantly that we miss our chances and the ones we concede go in.”