🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend'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 negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing reality and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely 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 moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

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 much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility 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 face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to return and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”