Liverpool's Manager Provides Zero Justifications and Pledges to Find Route Out of Malaise
Liverpool's head coach declared he had to “examine my own performance” after the Reds suffered a 6th loss in seven English top-flight games on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a way from the title holders' slump.
Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, delivered the biggest win at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as Liverpool fell to an eighth loss in eleven matches in every tournament. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was once more anonymous and Liverpool argued Murillo’s first goal should have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's disallowed effort against City before the national team pause. But the manager admitted the buck stopped with him and made no excuses.
“Nobody wants to hear me now speaking about refereeing decisions if you lose 3-0 at home to Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I ought to look at my own role first and my team, but it does show you how a goal can alter the momentum of a game. Earlier I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Afterwards we barely generated anything.
“Of course there is a way out, especially with the talented players we have. No matter if you win or are beaten when you look back you are always considering: ‘In which areas can we do better, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is different from doubting yourself.
“I want to emphasise I am accountable for the present losses. You are responsible when you are winning but also liable when you are losing. I can not provide enough excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is far from good enough and I am to blame for that.”
The team's display fell apart as the coach made multiple attacking changes when chasing the game. “It was the identical away at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I took the French defender off and put on [Diogo] Jota and he scored immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was brave, now it’s probably stupid.”
Liverpool last lost back-to-back at Anfield league games by Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered back-to-back league games by a three-goal scoreline was in 1965.
Slot said: “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 game. I did not witness us creating so much in the initial half-hour perhaps the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our box they scored.
“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in all other game we have been the controlling side and were capable to create chances. Lately it is almost constantly that we fail to convert our opportunities and the ones we allow go in.”