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Arne Slot stated he needed to “examine my own performance” following Liverpool endured a sixth defeat in seven Premier League games on their own turf to Nottingham Forest and insisted he would discover a solution out of the title holders' slump.

Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, produced the biggest victory at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as the Merseyside club fell to an 8th loss in 11 matches in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, the Swedish striker, was once more unnoticeable and Liverpool argued the defender's first goal should have been disallowed for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort against Manchester City before the international break. But the manager admitted the buck rested with him and made no excuses.

“Nobody wishes to listen to me now talking about officiating calls if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to look at my own role initially and my team, 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 strike. Later we hardly created any chances.

“Naturally there is a path forward, particularly with the quality footballers we have. No matter if you win or are beaten when you look back you are always considering: ‘In which areas can we improve, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is something else from doubting your abilities.

“I wish to stress I am accountable for the present losses. You are responsible when you are winning but also responsible when you are losing. I can not provide enough reasons for us to have the outcomes we have. That is not acceptable and I am to blame for that.”

The team's display unravelled as Slot introduced multiple attacking changes when chasing the game. “It was the same away at Forest last season,” he said. “I substituted the French defender out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he scored immediately to make it 1-1. Then it was brave, now it’s likely stupid.”

Liverpool last lost back-to-back at Anfield Premier League games against Forest in the sixties. The last time they lost back-to-back top-flight games by a 3-0 scoreline was in 1965.

The manager said: “It was very bad. Competing on home soil, losing 3-0 regardless of which team you encounter is a terrible outcome. Unexpected if you consider the opening 30 minutes of the match. I did not witness us creating so many chances in the initial 30 minutes maybe the whole season, and the first time they arrived in our box they found the back of the net.

“It did not happen at City, but in all other fixture we have been the controlling team and were able to create chances. Lately it is nearly constantly that we miss our opportunities and the ones we concede go in.”