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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are certainly 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 the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. 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 want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought 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. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to return and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”