Liverpool's Manager Offers Zero Justifications and Pledges to Find Route From Slump
Liverpool's head coach declared he had to “examine my own performance” following Liverpool endured a sixth loss in 7 Premier League games on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would discover a way out of the champions’ slump.
Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, produced the largest win at Anfield in their history as the Merseyside club slipped to an eighth defeat in 11 matches in every tournament. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more unnoticeable and Liverpool argued the defender's opener should have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's disallowed effort against Manchester City prior to the national team pause. But the manager admitted the responsibility rested with him and made no excuses.
“No one wants to listen to me now talking about officiating calls if you lose 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should look at my own role first and my squad, but it does show you how a goal can change the momentum of a game. Before I was just hoping for us to net a strike. Later we barely created any chances.
“Naturally there is a way out, especially with the quality 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 your abilities.
“I wish to emphasise I am responsible for the current losses. You are answerable when you are winning but also liable when you are defeated. I can not come up with enough excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is not good enough and I am responsible for that.”
Liverpool’s performance unravelled as Slot made multiple attacking substitutions when chasing the game. “It was the identical away at Nottingham Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I took the French defender out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he scored immediately to make it 1-1. At that time it was brave, currently it’s likely unwise.”
The Anfield side previously were defeated in two successive home league fixtures by Forest in 1963. The last time they suffered consecutive top-flight games by a three-goal scoreline was in 1965.
Slot said: “It was very bad. Competing at home, conceding 3-0 no matter which team you face is a very, very bad outcome. Unexpected if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the game. I did not witness us creating so many chances in the initial 30 minutes perhaps the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our penalty area they scored.
“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in all other fixture we have been the dominant side and were capable to generate opportunities. Recently it is nearly consistently that we miss our chances and the attempts we concede go in.”