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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, admitting the reigning champions are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that started the day in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the beginning after the break,” said Van Dijk. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this crisis because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

Van Dijk typically addresses the media after a match as part of his duties as team leader. This time was distinct, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the stadium corridors could hear him – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual 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 want the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues go beyond the recent additions. “It's difficult for all involved,” he said. “My expectation is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers 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 have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and persist, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment 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 exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He commented: “Wednesday is another game so how should I respond, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is the collective focus as well.”