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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section 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 eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation 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 Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the Premier League this season.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with facts 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 Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing 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 expect the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede 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 assign blame but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and during a tough time you must remain united and not point fingers.

“Show character and face the toughness and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”