Liverpool manager Arne Slot has shouldered the entire blame for his team's dramatic collapse, following a humbling 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest that leaves their Premier League title defence in tatters.
Slot's Mea Culpa After Anfield Humiliation
In a frank post-match admission, the Dutch coach insisted he was solely accountable for the team's disastrous run of form. This was Liverpool's eighth defeat in their last eleven Premier League outings, a staggering statistic for the reigning champions.
"I want to emphasise I am responsible for the current losses," Slot stated. "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."
The loss sees Liverpool languishing in the bottom half of the table with a negative goal difference. The situation could worsen, as they could end the weekend a staggering 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Forest's Tactical Masterclass Seals Famous Win
For Nottingham Forest, this represented their finest victory under manager Sean Dyche. The former Everton boss watched his new team execute a perfect game plan, with goals from the imperious defender Murillo, Nicolo Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White sealing a memorable win at Anfield.
Dyche credited the victory to a back-to-basics approach. "They worked very hard this week (in training)," he said. "I keep it very simple. The basics will never go out of fashion for me. We did the hard yards, the ugly side of the game to stay focused on what the job is. I thought that was excellent."
The Forest manager also revealed a key tactical shift, admitting, "I changed the tactical side, we are not passing short, we are going long. I thought we mixed it tactically. That is credit to the players."
Momentum Shifts and Controversial Moments
Slot pointed to a pivotal moment that changed the game's momentum, referencing a controversial first goal from Forest. Winger Dan Ndoye was in the line of sight of goalkeeper Alisson when Murillo scored, a situation reminiscent of Virgil van Dijk's disallowed header for Liverpool at Manchester City a fortnight ago.
However, Slot refused to use the officiating as an excuse for the comprehensive loss. "No one wants to hear from me now talking about referee decisions if you lose 3-0 at home to Forest," he conceded. "I should look at myself first and my team, but it does show you how a goal can change the momentum of a game."
The Liverpool manager did find a small positive, praising the fans who "stayed until the end" and the team's effort. He remains hopeful that the team's poor finishing and defensive lapses are a temporary phase, stating, "Lately, almost constantly, we miss our chances and the ones that we conceded – that will not continue all season."
Despite this optimism, the immediate reality is stark. Liverpool's Premier League title defence is effectively in ruins, and the pressure is mounting squarely on the shoulders of Arne Slot to find a swift solution.
