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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's woeful championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with facts and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, he replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man 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 enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”