🔗 Share this article

Arne Slot stated he had to “examine my own performance” after the Reds suffered a sixth loss in seven English top-flight games on their own turf to Forest and insisted he would find a way from the title holders' slump.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, produced the biggest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as Liverpool slipped to an eighth loss in eleven matches in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was once more anonymous and the home side argued Murillo’s opener ought to have been ruled out for comparable grounds to Virgil van Dijk’s chalked-off goal versus City prior to the national team pause. But Slot conceded the buck rested with him and offered no alibis.

“Nobody wishes to listen to me now speaking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I ought to look at myself first and my squad, 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, particularly with the talented footballers we have. Regardless if you win or lose when you reflect you are always considering: ‘In which areas can we improve, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is something else from doubting yourself.

“I wish to emphasise I am responsible for the present defeats. You are answerable when you are winning but also responsible when you are defeated. I can never provide sufficient excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is not acceptable and I am to blame for that.”

Liverpool’s display unravelled as the coach made multiple attacking changes when chasing the game. “It was the same away at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I substituted the French defender out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net immediately to make it 1-1. At that time it was brave, currently it’s probably unwise.”

Liverpool previously were defeated in two successive at Anfield Premier League games by Nottingham Forest in 1963. The last time they suffered consecutive league matches by a three-goal scoreline was in 1965.

The manager commented: “It was extremely poor. Competing at home, conceding 3-0 no matter which opponent you face is a very, very bad outcome. Surprising if you consider the first half-hour of the game. I haven’t seen us producing so many chances in the opening 30 minutes perhaps the entire season, and the initial occasion they arrived in our penalty area they scored.

“It did not happen against Manchester City, but in all other fixture we have been the controlling team and were capable to create opportunities. Recently it is nearly constantly that we miss our opportunities and the ones we concede go in.”