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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down 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 mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. He said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”