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

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he 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 tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, 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 tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. He said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I'll return and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”