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Arne Slot declared he had to “look at myself” after Liverpool endured a sixth loss in seven Premier League games on their own turf to Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would find a way out of the title holders' slump.

Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, produced the largest win at Liverpool's stadium in their history as Liverpool fell to an eighth loss in 11 matches in all competitions. The British record signing, Alexander Isak, was again anonymous and Liverpool argued the defender's first goal ought to have been ruled out for similar reasons to the captain's chalked-off goal versus City before the international break. But the manager conceded the buck stopped with him and made no excuses.

“Nobody wishes to hear me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 at home to Forest,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to examine my own role initially and my squad, but it demonstrates you how a goal can change the momentum of a match. Before I was just hoping for us to score a goal. Afterwards we barely generated anything.

“Naturally there is a path forward, especially with the talented footballers we have. No matter if you triumph or are beaten when you look back you are always thinking: ‘Where can we improve, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is different from questioning your abilities.

“I wish to stress I am responsible for the present losses. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are losing. I can never provide enough excuses for us to have the results we have. That is not acceptable and I am responsible for that.”

The team's display fell apart as Slot made multiple attacking changes when pursuing the game. “It was the same away at Forest last season,” he said. “I took the French defender out and brought on the Portuguese forward and he scored straight away to make it 1-1. Then it was brave, currently it’s probably unwise.”

The Anfield side last lost two successive at Anfield Premier League fixtures against Nottingham Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they suffered back-to-back league games by a 3-0 scoreline was in 1965.

The manager said: “It was very bad. Competing on home soil, losing 3-0 no matter which opponent you encounter is a terrible outcome. Surprising if you look at the first half-hour of the game. I did not witness us producing so many chances in the opening 30 minutes perhaps the entire campaign, and the first time they arrived in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

“It did not happen against Manchester City, but in every other game we have been the controlling team and were able to generate opportunities. Lately it is nearly constantly that we fail to convert our opportunities and the attempts we concede find the net.”