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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal 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. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting 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 the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”