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Arne Slot declared he had to “look at myself” following Liverpool endured a sixth defeat in 7 English top-flight matches on their own turf to Nottingham Forest and affirmed he would discover a solution out of the champions’ poor run.

Forest, fighting against the drop before kick off, produced the largest win at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as the Merseyside club slipped to an eighth defeat in eleven fixtures in all competitions. The most expensive domestic acquisition, Alexander Isak, was again anonymous and the home side contended Murillo’s opener should have been disallowed for similar reasons to the captain's chalked-off goal against City prior to the national team pause. But the manager conceded the responsibility rested with him and made no excuses.

“No one wishes to hear me now speaking about officiating calls if you lose 3-0 in your own stadium to Nottingham Forest,” said the Reds' boss. “I should look at myself 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 score a strike. Afterwards we hardly generated any chances.

“Naturally there is a path forward, particularly with the quality players we have. No matter if you triumph or are beaten when you reflect you are always thinking: ‘Where can we do better, where can we make changes?’ but that is something else from questioning yourself.

“I want to stress I am responsible for the current defeats. You are responsible when you are victorious but also responsible when you are losing. I can never come up with sufficient excuses for us to have the outcomes we have. That is not good enough and I am to blame for that.”

Liverpool’s performance unravelled as the coach introduced multiple offensive substitutions when pursuing the game. “It was the same away at Forest the previous campaign,” he said. “I substituted Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and brought on [Diogo] Jota and he found the net immediately to equalize at 1-1. Then it was brave, now it’s probably unwise.”

The Anfield side last lost back-to-back at Anfield league fixtures against Forest in 1963. The last time they suffered consecutive league matches by a three-goal scoreline was in the mid-60s.

Slot said: “It was very bad. Playing at home, losing 3-0 regardless of which team you encounter is a terrible result. Surprising if you consider the first half-hour of the game. I haven’t seen us producing so much in the opening half-hour maybe the entire campaign, and the initial occasion they entered in our box they found the back of the net.

“It did not happen against Manchester City, but in every other fixture we have been the dominant team and were capable to generate opportunities. Recently it is almost consistently that we miss our opportunities and the attempts we allow find the net.”