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Liverpool's head coach stated he had to “examine my own performance” after the Reds suffered a sixth loss in 7 Premier League matches on their own turf to 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 Anfield in their club records as Liverpool fell to an 8th loss in eleven matches in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was once more unnoticeable and the home side argued the defender's first goal should have been ruled out for comparable grounds to the captain's chalked-off goal against City before the national team pause. But the manager admitted the responsibility rested with him and made no excuses.

“Nobody wants to listen to me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I should look at myself initially and my squad, but it demonstrates you how a score can alter the flow of a match. Earlier I was just hoping for us to score a strike. Afterwards we hardly generated any chances.

“Naturally there is a path forward, especially with the quality players we have. Regardless if you triumph or are beaten when you reflect you are always considering: ‘In which areas can we improve, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is different from doubting your abilities.

“I want to emphasise I am accountable for the present defeats. You are answerable when you are winning but also responsible when you are defeated. I can never provide sufficient reasons for us to have the outcomes we have. That is far from acceptable and I am to blame for that.”

Liverpool’s display fell apart as the coach made multiple attacking substitutions when pursuing the match. “It was the same away at Nottingham Forest the previous campaign,” he remarked. “I took the French defender off and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net immediately to equalize at 1-1. At that time it was brave, currently it’s likely stupid.”

Liverpool last lost back-to-back home Premier League fixtures by Forest in the sixties. The last time they lost consecutive league games by a three-goal scoreline was in the mid-60s.

Slot commented: “It was very bad. Playing on home soil, losing 3-0 regardless of which team you face is a terrible result. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the game. I did not witness us producing so much in the initial half-hour maybe the whole season, and the first time they arrived in our penalty area they scored.

“It wasn’t at City, but in every other fixture we have been the dominant team and were capable to generate chances. Recently it is almost consistently that we miss our chances and the ones we allow go in.”