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

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

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 teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, 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 go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I'll go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”