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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper usually speaks the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to respond. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and tempting 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 not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because this club has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply 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 Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”