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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the title holders are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

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

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves 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 the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish 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 maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, 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 added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been going through 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 only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”