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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration 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 deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession 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. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame 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 during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out 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 weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to return and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”