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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, 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 take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, again and again 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 always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”