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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool 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 setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want 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 invested almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the field. We have to do that 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

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. 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 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 this club has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”