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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt evaluation of the club's woeful championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat 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 in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave the visitors the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a productive build-up to the match but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we gave away a free-kick in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” said the defender. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while urging the squad to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the players to do. It’s not easy during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450 million to strengthen 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 extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to be answerable on the pitch. We have to do that in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you have to follow the effort. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we allow excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to take responsibility 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 challenging phase you must remain united and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and face the toughness and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my eyes, 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 straightforward, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”