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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set 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 current campaign.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are certainly letting him down, 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 crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over those years 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

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”