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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” 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 allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture 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 go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”