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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”