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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt assessment of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool 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 seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, 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: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad 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 go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons 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

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”