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Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing evaluation of Liverpool's woeful title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while doubting whether every player is owning up for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. The club's chair was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “unacceptable” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as the Forest player gave the visitors the advantage. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said Van Dijk. “As a team, we're definitely 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 crisis because at the moment it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could hear him – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether this is occurring, he answered: “It's unclear. But it's essential. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during tough periods but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems extend past the recent additions. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to take responsibility on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk continued: “This season we lack any steady form, we allow excessive scores, 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 it is easy to point fingers but you have to do it together. We have been through it together and won the league and all contributed, and when you go through a tough time 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 in the wrong environment in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve consistently emerged of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? Certainly not, I’m going to go home and analyze how we can improve results and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”