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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of the club's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender 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 Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a display that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” stated Van Dijk. “As a team, we're 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 mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

Liverpool invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman added: “This season we don’t have any steady form, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and tempting to point fingers but unity is essential. 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.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because this club has been going through numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the Champions League. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to return and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”