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Virgil van Dijk has issued a blunt evaluation of the club's woeful title defence, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration 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. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a great build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. We have been through it together and claimed the title and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”