🔗 Share this article

Liverpool's head coach declared he needed to “examine my own performance” after the Reds endured a sixth defeat in 7 English top-flight matches on their own turf to Forest and insisted he would discover a way out of the title holders' slump.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, produced the biggest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their history as Liverpool slipped to an eighth loss in eleven matches in all competitions. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was once more unnoticeable and Liverpool contended Murillo’s opener ought to have been disallowed for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort versus Manchester City before the international break. But the manager conceded the buck stopped with him and offered no alibis.

“No one wants to listen to me now speaking about officiating calls if you are defeated 3-0 at home to Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should examine my own role first and my team, but it does show you how a goal can alter the momentum of a game. Before I was just waiting for us to score a strike. Afterwards we hardly generated anything.

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

“I want to emphasise I am responsible for the current losses. You are answerable when you are winning but also liable when you are losing. I can never provide sufficient reasons for us to have the results we have. That is far from acceptable and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s display fell apart as Slot introduced several offensive substitutions when pursuing the match. “It was the identical on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I substituted the French defender off and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net straight away to equalize at 1-1. Then it was courageous, currently it’s probably unwise.”

Liverpool last lost back-to-back at Anfield league games by Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered consecutive league games by a three-goal margin was in 1965.

The manager commented: “It was very bad. Competing at home, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you encounter is a very, very bad outcome. Surprising if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the game. I did not witness us creating so much in the opening half-hour perhaps the whole campaign, and the first time they entered in our box they scored.

“It did not happen at City, but in all other game we have been the dominant side and were able to create opportunities. Lately it is almost constantly that we fail to convert our opportunities and the attempts we concede go in.”