🔗 Share this article

Virgil van Dijk has issued a scathing assessment of the club's disappointing championship campaign, admitting the title holders are in a mess and failing head coach Slot while doubting whether every player is taking responsibility for the team’s slump.

Van Dijk struggled to hold back his frustration after the weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest, a result that left Liverpool in the lower section of the Premier League table with a negative goal difference. Tom Werner was present at Anfield to witness Liverpool’s latest loss in seven league games, their eighth setback in eleven fixtures across all competitions, and a performance that unravelled against a opponent that started the day in the drop zone.

“Unacceptable” Start and Set-Piece Woes

The captain described Liverpool’s start to the second half 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 allowed from dead-ball situations in the Premier League this season.

“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 free-kick in the opening period and a poor concession at the start of the second half,” said the defender. “As a team, we're definitely letting him down, but we’ve disappointed ourselves as well. Start with self-reflection and then you help each other, you work together to escape of this mess because at the present time it is a difficult situation – that's the reality.

Captain’s Challenge: Take Responsibility

The skipper typically addresses the media after a game as part of his duties as team leader. Saturday was different, however. He spoke was much louder – audible enough that any teammate in the stadium corridors could listen in – and he shook with anger while urging the dressing room to react. “You should be angry,” he emphasized. “The main thing for me is that each individual has to take responsibility.” When questioned whether that is happening, Van Dijk answered: “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 want to get out of this.”

Summer Signings and Team Problems

The Merseyside club spent almost £450m to strengthen a championship-winning team in the off-season but have gone backwards, with new arrivals struggling to contribute so far. Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool’s problems go beyond the new recruits. “It’s tough for everyone,” he said. “What I want is for each player to take responsibility on the field. This is necessary in order to push each other, to improve collectively. When someone is pressing, you must join the press. These are fundamentals but it’s not happening enough.”

Appeal to Stick Together

Van Dijk added: “This season we lack any steady form, 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 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 claimed the title and all contributed, and during a challenging phase you have to stick together and not point fingers.

“You have to be a man 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 view, because Liverpool has been enduring many adversity over recent seasons and we’ve always come out of it. However, that doesn't imply it is easy, it’s exhausting but there is only one path forward.”

Looking Ahead

Next up in the domestic league is a visit to London Stadium next Sunday, after the Champions League fixture of PSV in the European competition. Van Dijk commented: “The next game is another opportunity so what am I going to do, go home and cry? Certainly not, I'll return and try to think how we can turn this around and hopefully that is the collective focus as well.”