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Arne Slot declared he had to “examine my own performance” following the Reds suffered a 6th loss in seven Premier League matches on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would discover a solution out of the title holders' slump.

Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, produced the biggest win at Anfield in their history as the Merseyside club slipped to an 8th defeat in 11 fixtures in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, Alexander Isak, was once more unnoticeable and the home side contended the defender's opener should have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's chalked-off goal versus Manchester City before the international break. But Slot admitted the buck rested with him and offered no alibis.

“Nobody wants to listen to me now talking about officiating calls if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Forest,” stated the Reds' boss. “I should look at my own role initially and my squad, but it demonstrates you how a score can alter the flow of a game. Earlier I was just hoping for us to net a strike. Afterwards we hardly created anything.

“Of course there is a way out, especially with the talented players we have. No matter if you win or lose when you look back you are always thinking: ‘In which areas can we do better, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is different from doubting your abilities.

“I wish to emphasise I am accountable for the current losses. You are responsible 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 responsible for that.”

The team's display unravelled as Slot made multiple offensive substitutions when pursuing the game. “It was the same on the road at Nottingham Forest the previous campaign,” he said. “I substituted the French defender off and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored immediately to make it 1-1. At that time it was brave, now it’s probably stupid.”

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

Slot commented: “It was very bad. Competing at home, conceding 3-0 no matter which team you encounter is a very, very bad outcome. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the game. I haven’t seen us producing so many chances in the initial half-hour maybe the whole campaign, and the first time they arrived in our box they found the back of the net.

“It wasn’t against Manchester City, but in all other game we have been the dominant team and were able to generate opportunities. Recently it is nearly constantly that we fail to convert our opportunities and the attempts we allow find the net.”