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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

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 conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are facing reality and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we lack any steady form, we concede 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 you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, 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, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”