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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk could not contain his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain 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.

“We had a great build-up to the match but in a game you are facing reality and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, he answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial 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.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “This season we lack any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. It's vital to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, 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 numerous challenges over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I'll return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”