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The Liverpool skipper has delivered a blunt evaluation of Liverpool's disappointing championship campaign, confessing the reigning champions are in disarray and failing manager Arne Slot while questioning whether all squad members is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

The Dutch defender could not contain his frustration after Saturday’s heavy loss at Anfield by Nottingham Forest, a result that saw the Reds in the lower section of the top-flight standings with a deficit in goals. Tom Werner was in attendance to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in 11 matches across all competitions, and a display that unravelled against a opponent that began the match in the relegation zone.

Poor Second Half and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s opening after halftime as “not good enough” and admitted “panic kicked in” as soon as Murillo gave Sean Dyche’s team the lead. Forest’s opener was the ninth goal Liverpool have allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“We had a productive three or four days’ preparation but in a game you are dealing with reality and the truth is we conceded a free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the beginning after the break,” stated 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 present time it is a difficult situation – that’s just a fact.

Captain’s Challenge: Step Up

Van Dijk usually speaks the press after a match as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – so loud that any player in the Anfield tunnel could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The key point for me is that everyone has to be accountable.” Asked whether that is happening, he replied: “It's unclear. But you have to do that. It’s the main thing I expect the boys to do. It’s not easy during difficult times but we have to do it if we want to get out of this.”

Squad Investment and Broader Issues

Liverpool spent almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with several high-profile signings failing to make an impact so far. The captain maintained that Liverpool’s problems extend past the new recruits. “It's difficult for everyone,” he said. “My expectation is for each player to be answerable on the field. We have to do that in order to motivate one another, to make each other better. When someone is pressing, you have to follow the effort. These are fundamentals but they're lacking enough.”

Call for Unity

Van Dijk continued: “This season we don’t have any consistency, 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 you have to do it together. Past successes were collective and claimed the title and all contributed, and when you go through a challenging phase you have to stick together and avoid blaming others.

“Show character and face the toughness and persist, repeatedly because if you want to give up then you are at the wrong place in my eyes, 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 straightforward, it’s tiring but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

The upcoming match in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of the Dutch side in the Champions League. Van Dijk said: “The next game is another game so what am I going to do, go home and cry? No, I'll go home and try to think how we can improve results and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”