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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members 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 left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession 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 fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated 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 crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses 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 teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough 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 improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up 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. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”