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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt assessment of the club's disappointing title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’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. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any teammate in the stadium corridors 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 everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we allow far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the European competition. He said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I'll return and try to think how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”