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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’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. The club's chair was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. The first goal was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great build-up to the match 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,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a game as part of his duties 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 shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult 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 improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”