Liverpool's Manager Offers No Excuses and Vows to Find Way Out of Slump
Arne Slot stated he had to “look at myself” after Liverpool suffered a sixth defeat in seven English top-flight matches on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would find a solution out of the champions’ slump.
Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, delivered the biggest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their history as Liverpool slipped to an 8th loss in eleven fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was once more anonymous and the home side contended the defender's opener should have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's disallowed effort against Manchester City before the national team pause. But Slot conceded the buck stopped with him and offered no alibis.
“No one wants to listen to me now talking about officiating calls if you lose 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” stated the Reds' boss. “I ought to look at my own role first and my team, but it does show you how a score can alter the flow of a match. Earlier I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Later we hardly created anything.
“Of course there is a way out, especially with the talented footballers we have. Regardless if you triumph or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘In which areas can we improve, where can we make changes?’ but that is different from questioning yourself.
“I wish to emphasise I am responsible for the current defeats. You are responsible when you are winning but also responsible when you are defeated. I can never provide enough excuses for us to have the results we have. That is not good enough and I am to blame for that.”
Liverpool’s performance unravelled as the coach made multiple attacking changes when pursuing the game. “It was the same on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he remarked. “I took Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored immediately to make it 1-1. Then it was courageous, currently it’s likely unwise.”
The Anfield side last lost two successive home Premier League games against Nottingham Forest in the sixties. The last time they lost consecutive league matches by a three-goal scoreline was in the mid-60s.
Slot said: “It was extremely poor. Competing on home soil, losing 3-0 regardless of which opponent you face is a terrible outcome. Surprising if you consider the first half-hour of the match. I did not witness us producing so much in the opening half-hour perhaps the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they arrived in our box they scored.
“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in all other game we have been the controlling team and were able to create chances. Lately it is nearly constantly that we fail to convert our opportunities and the ones we allow go in.”