🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne 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 heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool 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 insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “This season we lack any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy 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 challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. He commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”