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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, 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 crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club 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. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club 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 tiring 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. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”