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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side 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 “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you help each other get out 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 press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult 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 make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “This season we lack any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”