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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham 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 observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal 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 fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk 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 – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad 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 go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow 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 concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have 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 claimed the title and all contributed, and during a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club 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

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I'll return and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”