Slot Offers Zero Justifications and Vows to Plot Route Out of Slump

Arne Slot declared he needed to “look at myself” following Liverpool endured a sixth defeat in 7 Premier League games on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would find a way out of the champions’ slump.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, delivered the biggest victory at Anfield in their club records as the Merseyside club fell to an 8th defeat in eleven matches in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, Alexander Isak, was once more anonymous and Liverpool contended the defender's opener ought to have been disallowed for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort against Manchester City prior to the national team pause. But the manager admitted the buck rested with him and made no excuses.

“No one wants to hear me now speaking about officiating calls if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to examine my own role first and my team, but it does show you how a goal can change the momentum of a match. Earlier I was just hoping for us to score a strike. Afterwards we barely generated any chances.

“Of course there is a path forward, particularly with the quality footballers we have. No matter if you triumph or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘Where can we improve, where can we adjust?’ but that is different from doubting your abilities.

“I wish to emphasise I am accountable for the present defeats. You are answerable when you are victorious but also responsible when you are defeated. I can not come up with enough reasons for us to have the results we have. That is not acceptable and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s display fell apart as the coach introduced several attacking substitutions when chasing the game. “It was the same on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he remarked. “I took Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] off and put on [Diogo] Jota and he scored straight away to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was brave, currently it’s likely stupid.”

Liverpool last lost back-to-back home league fixtures by Nottingham Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered consecutive top-flight matches by a three-goal margin was in the mid-60s.

Slot commented: “It was very bad. Playing at home, conceding 3-0 no matter which opponent you face is a terrible outcome. Surprising if you consider the first half-hour of the match. I haven’t seen us producing so many chances in the initial 30 minutes perhaps the whole campaign, and the first time they entered in our box they scored.

“It wasn’t at City, but in every other game we have been the controlling side and were able to generate chances. Recently it is nearly consistently that we miss our opportunities and the ones we concede find the net.”

Jessica Robbins
Jessica Robbins

Felix Weber is a digital marketing strategist with over 10 years of experience, specializing in SEO and data-driven campaigns for German SMEs.