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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

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

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection 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.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. 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. These are fundamentals but they're lacking 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 everyone sees that. It's vital 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 tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”