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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “This season we lack any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”