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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in a mess and letting down head coach 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 lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as the Forest player gave Sean Dyche’s team the advantage. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“There was a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing 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,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the media after a match as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was more forceful – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” When questioned whether that is happening, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool invested almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have regressed, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the pitch. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. It’s basic things but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we don’t have any consistency, we concede excessive scores, we are losing battles and all share the blame for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to turn this around and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man and confront the hardship and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s exhausting but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”