🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt evaluation of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half 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 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“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 free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “We are 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 moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel 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 take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”