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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt assessment of Liverpool's woeful title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press 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 hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “This season we lack any steady form, we concede far too many goals, 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 it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”