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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have 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 all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly 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 consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”