🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has delivered a scathing evaluation of the club's disappointing title defence, admitting the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

Van Dijk could not contain his frustration after the weekend's heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. The club's chair was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that fell apart against a Forest side that began the match in the relegation zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “anxiety set in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. The first goal was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the current campaign.

“There was a productive build-up to the match but in a fixture you are dealing with reality and the facts are we conceded a set piece in the opening period and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “We are certainly letting him down, but we’ve let ourselves down 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: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the media after a match as part of his role as team leader. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he expressed visible fury while challenging the dressing room to respond. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether this is occurring, Van Dijk replied: “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 must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

Liverpool spent almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals 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. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the field. This is necessary in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the press. It’s basic things but it’s not happening enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we concede far too many goals, we are losing battles and everyone is responsible for it and I hope this is recognized. We have to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame but you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and won the league and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you must remain united and avoid blaming others.

“Show character 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 this club has been going through numerous challenges over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. He said: “Wednesday is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll go home and analyze how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”