Liverpool's Manager Offers Zero Justifications and Pledges to Plot Route Out of Malaise
Liverpool's head coach declared he had to “examine my own performance” after the Reds suffered a 6th defeat in seven Premier League matches at home to Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a way from the title holders' poor run.
Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, delivered the largest victory at Anfield in their history as Liverpool slipped to an 8th loss in 11 matches in every tournament. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was again anonymous and Liverpool contended Murillo’s opener ought to have been ruled out for comparable grounds to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort versus City before the international break. But the manager admitted the responsibility stopped with him and offered no alibis.
“No one wants to listen to me now speaking about refereeing decisions if you lose 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” stated the Reds' boss. “I should examine myself first and my squad, but it does show you how a goal can change the momentum of a game. Earlier I was just hoping for us to net a goal. Afterwards we hardly generated any chances.
“Naturally there is a path forward, particularly with the quality players we have. Regardless if you triumph or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘Where can we improve, where can we make changes?’ but that is different from questioning yourself.
“I want to emphasise I am responsible for the present defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also liable 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 responsible for that.”
The team's performance unravelled as Slot introduced multiple attacking substitutions when chasing the match. “It was the identical away at Forest last season,” he said. “I took the French defender out and put on the Portuguese forward and he found the net immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was courageous, currently it’s probably unwise.”
Liverpool last lost back-to-back at Anfield league fixtures by Nottingham Forest in the sixties. The last time they lost back-to-back top-flight games by a three-goal margin was in 1965.
Slot said: “It was very bad. Playing at home, conceding 3-0 no matter which opponent you face is a terrible result. Unexpected if you consider the opening 30 minutes of the match. I did not witness us creating so much in the opening half-hour perhaps the entire campaign, and the first time they entered in our box they found the back of the net.
“It did not happen at City, but in all other game we have been the dominant side and were able to create opportunities. Recently it is almost constantly that we fail to convert our opportunities and the attempts we concede find the net.”