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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked 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.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half 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 support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – 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. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”