🔗 Share this article

The Liverpool skipper has delivered a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing championship campaign, confessing 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.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his anger after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the top-flight standings with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth setback in 11 matches across every tournament, and a display that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Defensive Lapses

The captain labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and admitted “panic kicked 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 reality and the facts are we conceded a free-kick in the first half and a terrible goal at the start of the second half,” stated the defender. “As a team, we're certainly failing the manager, but we’ve let ourselves down 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 difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

The skipper typically addresses the press after a game as part of his role as team leader. This time was distinct, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any teammate in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the squad to respond. “You should be angry,” he insisted. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t know. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Broader Issues

The Merseyside club invested almost £450m to strengthen a title-winning squad in the off-season but have regressed, with new arrivals failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the new recruits. “It’s tough for all involved,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility 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. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

The Dutchman continued: “In the current term we lack any steady form, we concede excessive scores, we are being out-fought and all share the blame for it and I hope this is recognized. It's vital to accept duty to turn this around and it is easy to assign blame 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 persist, repeatedly because surrendering is not an option then you are in the wrong environment in my view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over those years and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the midweek visit of the Dutch side in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, dwell on the loss? No, I’m going to go home and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is what everyone is doing as well.”