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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain 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. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down 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

The skipper usually speaks the press after a match as part of his role 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 challenging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, 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

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”