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Arne Slot declared he needed to “examine my own performance” after Liverpool endured a sixth defeat in 7 Premier League matches on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would discover a solution out of the title holders' poor run.

Forest, fighting against the drop prior to the match, delivered the largest win at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as Liverpool fell to an eighth loss in eleven fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was once more anonymous and the home side contended the defender's first goal should have been disallowed for similar reasons to the captain's disallowed effort against City before the international break. But Slot conceded the buck stopped with him and made no excuses.

“Nobody wants to listen to me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I ought to look at myself initially and my team, but it does show you how a goal can change the flow of a game. Earlier I was just waiting for us to net a goal. Later we hardly generated any chances.

“Naturally there is a path forward, particularly with the quality players we have. Regardless if you win or are beaten when you look back you are always thinking: ‘In which areas can we improve, where can we adjust?’ but that is different from questioning your abilities.

“I wish to stress I am accountable for the current losses. You are responsible when you are winning but also responsible when you are defeated. I can not provide enough excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is far from good enough and I am to blame for that.”

The team's display unravelled as Slot made multiple offensive substitutions when pursuing the match. “It was the same away at Forest last season,” he said. “I substituted the French defender out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net straight away to make it 1-1. Then it was courageous, now it’s likely unwise.”

The Anfield side last lost back-to-back home league games by Forest in the sixties. The last time they lost back-to-back league matches by a three-goal scoreline was in 1965.

The manager commented: “It was very bad. Playing at home, losing 3-0 regardless of which team you face is a terrible outcome. Unexpected if you consider the first half-hour of the match. I did not witness us creating so many chances in the opening 30 minutes perhaps the whole campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our penalty area they scored.

“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in every other fixture we have been the controlling team and were able to create opportunities. Lately it is almost consistently that we fail to convert our opportunities and the attempts we allow go in.”