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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt assessment of the club's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing reality and the facts are we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're 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.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the press after a match as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he replied: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect 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 championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“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 eyes, because Liverpool has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”