Liverpool's Manager Offers No Excuses and Pledges to Find Route Out of Malaise
Liverpool's head coach declared he needed to “examine my own performance” following Liverpool suffered a sixth defeat in seven English top-flight matches at home to Forest and insisted he would find a way from the champions’ poor run.
Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, delivered the biggest win at Liverpool's stadium in their history as Liverpool slipped to an 8th defeat in 11 fixtures in every tournament. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was again unnoticeable and Liverpool contended Murillo’s first goal should have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort versus City before the international break. But the manager admitted the responsibility rested with him and made no excuses.
“Nobody wants to hear me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 at home to Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should look at myself first and my team, but it does show you how a goal can alter the momentum of a game. Earlier I was just hoping for us to score a strike. Later we barely created any chances.
“Naturally there is a path forward, especially with the talented players we have. No matter if you triumph or lose when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘Where can we improve, where can we make changes?’ but that is something else from doubting yourself.
“I want to emphasise I am responsible for the present losses. You are answerable when you are victorious but also liable when you are defeated. I can not provide sufficient excuses for us to have the results we have. That is not acceptable and I am responsible for that.”
The team's display fell apart as the coach introduced several offensive changes when chasing the game. “It was the same away at Nottingham Forest the previous campaign,” he said. “I substituted the French defender out and brought on the Portuguese forward and he found the net straight away to make it 1-1. Then it was courageous, currently it’s likely unwise.”
Liverpool last lost back-to-back at Anfield Premier League games against Nottingham Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they lost consecutive league games by a 3-0 scoreline was in the mid-60s.
Slot said: “It was extremely poor. Competing on home soil, losing 3-0 regardless of which team you face is a very, very bad result. Surprising if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the game. I did not witness us creating 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 dominant team and were able to generate opportunities. Recently it is almost consistently that we fail to convert our chances and the ones we allow go in.”