🔗 Share this article

The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt assessment of the club's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half 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 game you are facing reality and the truth is we gave away a set piece 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 disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He said: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”