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The Liverpool skipper has issued a scathing assessment of Liverpool's woeful championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and letting down head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the current downturn.

The Dutch defender struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the bottom half of the Premier League table with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to observe Liverpool’s latest loss in recent outings, their eighth loss in eleven fixtures across every tournament, and a performance that unravelled against a Forest side that began the match in the drop zone.

Poor Second Half and Defensive Lapses

Van Dijk labeled Liverpool’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” 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.

“We had a great three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are facing facts and the truth is we conceded a set piece in the first half and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated the defender. “We are definitely failing the manager, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you support teammates, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a mess – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a game as part of his duties as Liverpool captain. Saturday was different, however. His voice was much louder – so loud that any player in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while challenging the dressing room to react. “Anger is justified,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” Asked whether this is occurring, he replied: “I don’t know. But it's essential. That's crucial I expect the players to do. It's challenging during difficult times but we must act if we aim to recover of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to replenish a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. Van Dijk maintained that Liverpool’s issues extend past the recent additions. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for everyone to take responsibility on the pitch. This is necessary in order to push each other, to make each other better. If a teammate presses, you must join the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk added: “In the current term we lack any consistency, we concede far too many goals, we are being out-fought and everyone is responsible for it and I hope everyone sees that. We have to take responsibility to reverse the situation and tempting 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.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, again and again because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, because Liverpool has been enduring numerous challenges over those years and we’ve always come out of it. But it doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s tiring but there is no other way.”

Next Fixtures

The upcoming match in the Premier League is a trip to West Ham next weekend, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk commented: “Wednesday is another opportunity so how should I respond, go home and cry? No, I’m going to return and try to think how we can turn this around and I trust that is what everyone is doing as well.”