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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “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 work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”