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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings 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 loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a productive 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,” stated the defender. “We are certainly letting him down, 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: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “This season we lack any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to return and analyze how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”