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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the title holders are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

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