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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a great 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 start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers 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 face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match 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 opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”