Slot takes responsibility as downbeat Liverpool punished by Forest

Arne Slot shouldered all responsibility as his downbeat Liverpool team suffered further disappointment at Anfield in a stunning 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest.

Murillo converted from a half-cleared corner for the first-half opener before Nicola Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White scored after half-time to pile further pressure on Slot.

His side have now lost six of their last seven Premier League games, as many as they had in 58 matches beforehand.

Liverpool, who were outclassed 3-0 by Manchester City before the international break, have also lost back-to-back league games by a margin of three or more goals for the first time since April 1965.

Many of the Anfield faithful headed for the exit when Gibbs-White sealed a thumping win 12 minutes from time, and Slot understands those frustrations following Liverpool's drab run.

"It should be like this," Slot said when asked about the poor mood in the Liverpool camp. 

"No matter what kind of run of form you're in, if you lose 3-0 at home against a team that did really well today, but it's not really our standards that we are losing a game at home 3-0.

"We should all be very disappointed but we also know that in a few days, the Champions League is coming up."

Liverpool are just the fourth side to start a season as defending Premier League champions with six or more defeats in their first 12 games, and first since Leicester City in 2016-17 (also six losses).

Attention will quickly turn to PSV at home in Europe on Wednesday, when Slot will hope to see a response from his under-pressure side.

"A big disappointment. When things go well, things don't go well, it is always my responsibility," he added before suggesting Liverpool do not lack confidence.

"I don't feel this, and I didn't see this in the first half-hour. But what you do see is that after we go one-nil down, we do struggle in the sense that we don't create as many chances.

"We try to pump them up, to give them the information they need to start the second half well, and immediately after the start, we conceded.

"That is again a big blow for us and a big boost of confidence for them. The players kept on trying, I cannot blame them on that, but it was very difficult for us to find an opening."

Forest, meanwhile, have won away to Liverpool in back-to-back league seasons for the first time since doing so in 1962-63 and 1963-64.

Having beaten Leeds United before the pause for international football, consecutive wins for Forest also saw them climb out of the relegation zone and up to 16th.

"We want to build that competitive mentality. I always have a team that is competitive," Forest boss Sean Dyche told Premier League Productions.

"That is a big marker for me. I do remind them that this is another step. The fans can have that one."

Dyche was brought in following the dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo, and has now seen his boyhood club go four games unbeaten across all competitions to ease any Forest concerns.

"Timing in football can be everything," Dyche added. "Whether it's a player, a manager or a coach. I want to look after this football club, it's important for me to do everything we can."