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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's woeful championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player 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 saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal 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 facing facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods 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 title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles 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 assign blame but unity is essential. 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 confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”