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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the title holders are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after the weekend'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. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

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

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with facts and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and during a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”