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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is owning up for the current downturn.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back 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 deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that started the day in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half as “not good enough” 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 current campaign.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “We are certainly failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, 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 react. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, Van Dijk answered: “I don’t know. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I want the players to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a championship-winning team in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the recent additions. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “This season we don’t have any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to accept duty to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and go again, again and again because surrendering is not an option then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the midweek visit of PSV in the European competition. He commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”