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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and claimed the title and all contributed, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool 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 no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”