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Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the title holders are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender could not contain his anger after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half 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 recent outings, their eighth loss in 11 matches across all competitions, and a performance that fell apart against a opponent that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start 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. Forest’s opener was the ninth concession Liverpool have conceded from a set piece in the current campaign.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a fixture you are dealing with facts and the facts are we gave away a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” 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 help each other get out of this crisis because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Van Dijk’s Demands: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the squad to respond. “Anger is justified,” he insisted. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I want the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450 million to replenish a title-winning squad in the summer but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained 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 pitch. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow 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 losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I trust everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and it is easy to point fingers but unity is essential. We have been through it together and won the league and everyone was part of it, and when you go through a tough time you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“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 view, because Liverpool has been going through many adversity over those years and we’ve consistently emerged of it. However, that doesn't imply it is straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? Certainly not, 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.”