🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are facing facts and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection 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.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season 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 take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been enduring many adversity over those years 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

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”