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Liverpool's head coach stated he had to “examine my own performance” following the Reds endured a sixth defeat in seven Premier League games on their own turf against Forest and affirmed he would find a way out of the title holders' slump.

Nottingham 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 every tournament. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was again anonymous and Liverpool argued the defender's first goal should have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's chalked-off goal versus City prior to the international break. But the manager conceded the buck stopped with him and made no excuses.

“No one wishes to hear me now talking about officiating calls if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should examine my own role first and my team, 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 barely generated 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 considering: ‘Where can we improve, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is different from doubting yourself.

“I wish to stress I am responsible for the current defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are defeated. I can never provide sufficient excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is not acceptable and I am to blame for that.”

The team's performance unravelled as Slot made several offensive substitutions when chasing the match. “It was the same on the road at Nottingham Forest last season,” he remarked. “I took the French defender out and put on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net straight away to make it 1-1. At that time it was brave, now it’s likely unwise.”

The Anfield side last lost two successive at Anfield Premier League games by Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they lost consecutive top-flight games by a three-goal margin was in 1965.

Slot said: “It was extremely poor. Playing at home, conceding 3-0 regardless of which team you encounter is a terrible outcome. Unexpected if you look at the first half-hour of the match. I did not witness us creating so many chances in the opening 30 minutes maybe the whole campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our penalty area they scored.

“It wasn’t at City, but in all other fixture we have been the controlling side and were able to create opportunities. Recently it is nearly consistently that we fail to convert our chances and the attempts we allow go in.”