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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt assessment of the club's woeful championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are definitely 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 mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting 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 tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”