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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in a mess and letting down 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 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half 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 help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it 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 summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained 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. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”