LIVERPOOL, England – Arne Slot has admitted to a "negative and disappointing" atmosphere surrounding Liverpool, as the team's slump continues. The admission comes in the wake of a shocking 4-1 defeat at the hands of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday. This latest loss marks the Reds' ninth defeat in their last 12 games across all competitions. This is their worst such stretch since the 1953-54 season.

The defeat against PSV has further intensified the pressure on Slot, who is in his first season managing the Merseyside club. "The emotions are very negative and disappointing," Slot stated. He also expressed his hopes for a better performance, lamenting that the team's display was far from their usual standards.

Liverpool's recent form has been alarming, with the team losing their last three games in all competitions by a three-goal margin. Even their home form at Anfield has suffered, with more defeats this season than in the entirety of the last.

Slot addressed the team's struggles with conceding goals, stating that they are unable to compete effectively because they concede too many goals, even in matches where they manage to score a couple themselves and create chances.

In program notes ahead of the PSV match, Slot stressed that losing should not become normalized at Liverpool and that the only option is to react positively, with effort and commitment being the minimum requirement. He acknowledged that the performance against Nottingham Forest was below expectations.

Following the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, players like Cody Gakpo spoke of "embarrassment" and honest discussions within the team, while Virgil van Dijk said players "should be angry" and take responsibility. Slot echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to turn the tide for both the supporters and the team themselves. He also acknowledged the fans' unwavering support, stating that it should not be taken for granted, and that the team has a responsibility to create positive conditions through their performance.

Despite the poor results, Slot maintains that the team's confidence hasn't been an issue, pointing to the first half-hour against Nottingham Forest as an example of the team playing with energy and creating opportunities. He admitted that conceding the first goal changed the momentum and that the team struggled to recover. Slot also noted that the team has lost too many duels in recent games, and that while they have had a high percentage of ball possession, they have not defended well enough in and around their own box.

Slot acknowledged the unexpected nature of the team's current situation, stating that he didn't anticipate being in such a position, especially as the manager of Liverpool. He insisted that there are no sufficient excuses for their poor performances. He also said that the number of goals conceded is the biggest difference between this season and last.