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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player 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 productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. 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 have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital 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 all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship 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 enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”