🔗 Share this article

The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated Van Dijk. “We are 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 mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial 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

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”