🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members 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 lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors 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 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 first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. This time was distinct, however. His voice was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act 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 summer but have gone backwards, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I trust this is recognized. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and tempting to assign blame but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and during a tough time you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and confront the hardship and go again, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been going through 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 no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. He said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to return and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”