Arne Slot Fires Back as Liverpool Crashes to Historic 60-Year Low

Arne Slot expressed confidence in his ability to guide Liverpool through their devastating poor form, declaring that the recurring pattern behind their alarming downfall "will not persist for the entire season."

The Dutch manager didn't seem quite as resolute while witnessing Nottingham Forest cruise to a well-earned 3–0 triumph at Anfield on Saturday afternoon. Having endured the identical scoreline against Manchester City earlier this month, this marks the first occasion Liverpool have experienced back-to-back league losses by three or more goals since April 1965.

Following Forest's third strike, swept into the net's corner by Morgan Gibbs-White with 12 minutes left, Slot stood motionless on the sideline with his mouth agape. Many spectators likely missed this stunned acknowledgment of defeat as numerous fans used that moment to make their way toward the exits.

Slot had composed himself sufficiently to accept accountability for Liverpool's sixth defeat in seven league matches, though he maintained that hope remained.

"Absolutely, there's definitely a path forward, particularly given the talented players in our squad," he stated during his post-game media session. "Recently, it's become almost routine that we squander our opportunities while every chance we allow results in a goal," he lamented. "This pattern will not persist for the entire campaign."

"The moment they first entered our penalty area, they found the net," Slot continued. "It's a bitter combination when you waste your own scoring chances and nearly every opportunity you surrender ends up as a goal."

Liverpool have already endured numerous disappointments this season.

Harsh Numbers Reveal Struggling Liverpool

Liverpool dominated the initial 30 minutes, firing off eight attempts while keeping their opponents pinned back. "I hadn't witnessed us generate that many chances in an opening half-hour perhaps all season," Slot would reflect afterward. However, they were once again undone by a set-piece situation.

Setting aside the disputed offside decision surrounding Murillo's opening goal, Slot must be deeply troubled by how vulnerable his team has suddenly become to dead-ball situations. The center-back's clean strike from a corner represented the ninth goal Liverpool have surrendered from set-piece scenarios in the first 12 matches of the season—matching their total from the entire 2024–25 campaign.

Mohamed Salah, whose defensive commitment has been a contentious topic this season, was strangely assigned to mark Murillo during the corner and predictably lost track of his target. The Egyptian forward again failed to follow Neco Williams's movement 33 seconds into the second half, observing as the attacking fullback set up teammate Nicolò Savona for Forest's second strike.

Liverpool's legacy, particularly at Anfield, is deeply connected to memorable comebacks, yet there appeared little possibility of any revival on Saturday after Forest gained the advantage. This shouldn't have come as a shock.

Slot's title holders have trailed in six Premier League fixtures this season and suffered defeat in all six. Only bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers possess a worse record in this aspect this campaign.