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Arne Slot declared he needed to “examine my own performance” after Liverpool suffered a sixth defeat in seven Premier League games on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would discover a way out of the title holders' slump.

Nottingham Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, produced the biggest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their history as Liverpool fell to an eighth loss in 11 matches in all competitions. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was again anonymous and Liverpool argued the defender's first goal ought to have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort versus City before the national team pause. But Slot conceded the buck stopped with him and offered no alibis.

“No one wishes to hear me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I should look at my own role initially and my squad, but it does show you how a score can change the momentum of a game. Before I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Later we barely generated anything.

“Naturally there is a way out, particularly with the talented players we have. Regardless if you win or are beaten when you look back you are always considering: ‘Where can we improve, where can we make changes?’ but that is something else from doubting yourself.

“I wish to stress I am accountable for the current defeats. You are responsible when you are winning but also responsible when you are losing. I can not come up with enough excuses for us to have the results we have. That is not acceptable and I am responsible for that.”

The team's performance fell apart as Slot made multiple offensive changes when pursuing the match. “It was the identical away at Nottingham Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] off and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored straight away to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was brave, currently it’s probably stupid.”

Liverpool last lost two successive at Anfield league fixtures by Forest in 1963. The last time they lost back-to-back league matches by a three-goal scoreline was in 1965.

Slot commented: “It was very bad. Playing on home soil, conceding 3-0 regardless of which opponent you encounter is a very, very bad outcome. Unexpected if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the match. I did not witness us producing so many chances in the opening half-hour perhaps the whole campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in all other fixture we have been the controlling team and were able to create opportunities. Recently it is nearly constantly that we miss our chances and the attempts we allow go in.”