Slot Provides Zero Justifications and Pledges to Plot Way From Malaise

Arne Slot declared he had to “examine my own performance” after the Reds endured a 6th defeat in seven English top-flight matches on their own turf to Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a way from the champions’ poor run.

Nottingham Forest, fighting against the drop before kick off, produced the largest victory at Anfield in their club records as the Merseyside club slipped to an 8th loss in eleven matches in every tournament. The most expensive domestic acquisition, Alexander Isak, was again anonymous and Liverpool contended Murillo’s first goal should have been disallowed for similar reasons to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort against City prior to the international break. But Slot conceded the buck rested with him and made no excuses.

“Nobody wants to hear me now talking about officiating calls if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should examine my own role first and my team, but it does show you how a score can change the momentum of a game. Before I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Afterwards we barely created any chances.

“Naturally there is a path forward, especially with the quality footballers we have. Regardless if you win or lose when you look back you are always thinking: ‘Where can we improve, where can we adjust?’ but that is different from questioning your abilities.

“I wish to stress I am responsible for the current defeats. You are answerable when you are victorious but also responsible when you are losing. I can not come up with enough excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is not good enough and I am responsible for that.”

The team's display unravelled as Slot introduced several offensive changes when chasing the game. “It was the identical on the road at Nottingham Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I took the French defender off and put on [Diogo] Jota and he scored straight away to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was courageous, now it’s likely unwise.”

The Anfield side last lost two successive at Anfield Premier League games against Nottingham Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered consecutive league matches by a 3-0 margin was in the mid-60s.

The manager commented: “It was extremely poor. Competing on home soil, conceding 3-0 no matter which team you encounter is a very, very bad result. Unexpected if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the match. I did not witness us creating so much in the initial 30 minutes perhaps the entire campaign, and the first time they entered in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in all other game we have been the controlling side and were capable to generate opportunities. Recently it is almost constantly that we miss our chances and the attempts we allow go in.”

Emily Adams
Emily Adams

Felix is a seasoned casino enthusiast with over a decade of experience in roulette strategy and online gaming analysis.