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The Liverpool skipper has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal 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 truth is we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the press after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was more forceful – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the players to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. 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: “This season we lack any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because this club has been going through many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? 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.”