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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves 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 present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud 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 emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “This season we lack any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club 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 tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”