Liverpool manager Arne Slot was notably absent from a prestigious awards ceremony on Sunday, just hours after his team suffered a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.
A Night of Absence and Apologies
The head coach, who was due to receive the Northern Football Writers' Association manager of the year award, pulled out of attending the event at the eleventh hour. The award recognised his impressive debut season, where he oversaw a miraculous Premier League campaign for the Reds.
In his place, the club sent ambassador Gary McAllister to collect the honour. McAllister, who was reportedly attending Leeds United's match against Aston Villa, was contacted at half-time to step in as a last-minute replacement.
He conveyed Slot's apologies to the attendees and shared a brief message from the Dutchman, in which Slot expressed that he was 'extremely proud' to have won the award.
From Triumph to Turmoil on the Pitch
Slot's withdrawal comes amidst a severe dip in form for Liverpool. The 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday afternoon was a particular low, with the visiting team securing their first back-to-back win at the ground since 1978.
The defeat is part of a wider, alarming trend for the team. Liverpool have now lost eight of their last 11 matches, leaving them adrift in a challenging squad rebuild.
Slot Takes Responsibility for Poor Run
Following the dismal result, Slot was quick to shoulder the blame in his post-match comments. 'I want to emphasise I am responsible for the current losses,' he stated firmly.
He added, 'You are responsible when you are winning but also responsible when you are losing. I can never come up with enough excuses for us to have the results we have. That is far from good enough and I am responsible for that.'
Despite the poor results, Slot pointed to his team's effort, noting that the fans stayed until the end and that the team, in most games, has been the dominant side creating chances. He identified a critical lack of finishing and a vulnerability to conceding first as the primary issues plaguing the squad.
The awards ceremony also honoured other managers, including Leeds' Daniel Farke, Wrexham's Phil Parkinson, and Newcastle's Eddie Howe. In a cruelly ironic twist, the last high-profile Premier League manager to attend was Erik ten Hag, who was sacked by Manchester United just days after receiving his award last year.
