Liverpool's Manager Offers Zero Justifications and Vows to Plot Route From Slump
Arne Slot stated he needed to “look at myself” following the Reds endured a 6th defeat in 7 English top-flight games at home against Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a solution from the champions’ poor run.
Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, delivered the biggest win at Anfield in their history as the Merseyside club slipped to an eighth loss in 11 fixtures in every tournament. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was once more unnoticeable and Liverpool contended the defender's first goal should have been ruled out for comparable grounds to Virgil van Dijk’s chalked-off goal versus City prior to the international break. But Slot conceded the responsibility rested with him and offered no alibis.
“No one wishes to listen to me now talking about refereeing decisions if you lose 3-0 at home to Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should look at myself first and my squad, but it demonstrates you how a goal can alter the momentum of a game. Earlier I was just waiting for us to net a strike. Afterwards we hardly created any chances.
“Naturally there is a path forward, especially with the talented players we have. No matter if you win or are beaten when you look back you are always thinking: ‘In which areas can we improve, in what aspects can we adjust?’ but that is something else from doubting your abilities.
“I want to stress I am responsible for the present defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are losing. I can never come up with sufficient excuses for us to have the results we have. That is far from acceptable and I am responsible for that.”
Liverpool’s performance fell apart as the coach made multiple attacking changes when chasing the game. “It was the same away at Nottingham Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I took the French defender out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net straight away to make it 1-1. At that time it was courageous, now it’s likely stupid.”
The Anfield side last lost back-to-back home Premier League fixtures against Nottingham Forest in the sixties. The most recent occasion they lost back-to-back league games by a three-goal scoreline was in the mid-60s.
Slot commented: “It was very bad. Competing on home soil, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you encounter is a terrible outcome. Surprising if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the game. I haven’t seen us producing so much in the initial 30 minutes maybe the whole campaign, and the initial occasion they arrived in our penalty area they found the back of the net.
“It wasn’t at City, but in all other game we have been the controlling team and were capable to create opportunities. Recently it is nearly constantly that we fail to convert our chances and the attempts we concede find the net.”