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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of the club's woeful championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up 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 left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are certainly 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 just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. 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 allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool 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 tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”