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Arne Slot declared he needed to “examine my own performance” following the Reds endured a 6th defeat in seven English top-flight matches at home to Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a way out of the title holders' slump.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone before kick off, produced the biggest win at Anfield in their history as Liverpool fell to an 8th loss in 11 fixtures in all competitions. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was again unnoticeable and Liverpool argued Murillo’s first goal should have been ruled out for comparable grounds to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort versus City before the international break. But the manager conceded the buck rested with him and offered no alibis.

“No one wants to listen to me now speaking 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 squad, but it does show you how a goal can alter the flow of a match. Before I was just waiting for us to net a strike. Afterwards we barely created any chances.

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

“I want to emphasise I am accountable for the present losses. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are losing. I can never provide sufficient reasons for us to have the results we have. That is not good enough and I am responsible for that.”

Liverpool’s performance fell apart as the coach made several attacking changes when pursuing the game. “It was the identical away at Nottingham Forest last season,” he remarked. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net straight away to make it 1-1. At that time it was courageous, now it’s probably stupid.”

The Anfield side previously were defeated in two successive at Anfield league fixtures by Forest in 1963. The last time they suffered back-to-back league games by a three-goal margin was in the mid-60s.

The manager commented: “It was extremely poor. Playing at home, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you encounter is a terrible result. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the game. I haven’t seen us producing so many chances in the opening 30 minutes perhaps the entire campaign, and the first time they entered in our penalty area they scored.

“It wasn’t at City, but in every other game we have been the dominant side and were able to generate opportunities. Lately it is almost constantly that we miss our chances and the attempts we allow go in.”