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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing 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 Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, 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 continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”