🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're 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 present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to strengthen a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “This season we lack any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame 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 tough time 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 in the wrong environment in my eyes, 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 easy, 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 Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. He said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”